Monthlong school count sees changes

Virus ushers in new procedures

For the next month, school officials across Michigan are verifying student enrollments as part of a winter tradition known as Count Day.

Officially, Count Day was Wednesday, Feb. 10. But school officials have until March 9 to confirm enrollments of students who didn’t attend school in person or virtually that day.

Under state law, two student counts — one in October and one in February — are used to determine the per-pupil state aid that each school district will receive.

Both the October and February counts have a 30day grace period to help districts count students absent on actual Count Day.

This year, count procedures are more complicated because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Because of the pandemic, many districts have divided students into at least two cohorts that alternate inperson attendance days.

Children who are learning remotely should log in or otherwise connect with their district regularly over the next month. Check with your school officials for more details.

Normally, a district’s final enrollment is calculated by adding 90% of the October count to 10% of the previous year’s February count.

But this year, a new formula, known as a super

blend, will determine funding for this school year.

It is a weighted blend of 75% of last year’s pupil count and 25% of this year’s pupils count.

The Michigan Department

of Education says the new formula was devised to lessen the financial impact of declining enrollment that some districts are experiencing because of the pandemic.