LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – An average of nearly 3 out of 10 students are labeled “chronically absent” in Michigan. That means they miss at least 18 days of class a year.

In school districts like Flint, nearly three out of every four students were chronically absent in 2024-25.

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That could raise concerns for school officials on “Count Day”, which is Wednesday in the state of Michigan. That’s the day when funding is determined by counting the number of students in attendance.

Each student brings a minimum of $9,608 a year to whatever district they attend. If a large segment of the student body is not in attendance during the official count day, it could cause problems for a district if not for the accommodations the state allows for absences.

Students who miss the official “Count Day” can still be counted if they attend within 45 calendar days of the official count day in some instances.

In Michigan, most of the school funding a public district receives is based upon the number of students it has enrolled. More students means more revenue.

If a student has an excused absence, that pupil can still be counted by the district if the pupil attends class within 30 calendar days of the official Count Day. If the student’s absence was unexcused, then that student can still be counted if they attend within 10 calendar days of count day. If a student is suspended on Count Day, that student can still be counted if he or she attends class within 45 calendar days of the official Count Day.