Detroit DPSCD board adopts $1.1B budget targeting chronic absenteeism, pay, security

Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) board members voted Tuesday night to adopt a $1.1 billion budget for the 2026–2027 school year, with a clear focus on attendance, student support staffing, and school safety. Michigan Public reported the plan also includes pay raises for employees and expands yellow-bus service for additional Detroit high schools.

A bigger push to reduce chronic absenteeism

Chronic absenteeism is typically defined as missing 10% or more of school days. Michigan Public reported that 60.9% of DPSCD students were chronically absent in 2024–25, citing Chalkbeat Detroit.

To address that, BridgeDetroit reported the budget includes $13.9 million for efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism. The money is intended to support attendance agents, financial incentives for students with perfect attendance, wraparound services, and yellow-bus service pilots at four high schools.

Attendance incentives and more yellow-bus service

Michigan Public said DPSCD is broadening an existing attendance incentive program. Under the plan, high school students with perfect attendance receive $100 per week in Visa gift cards. Middle schoolers with perfect attendance receive $50 a week for perfect attendance in the coming school year.

The district is also expanding yellow-bus service to two additional high schools: Pershing High School and Cody High School. Michigan Public noted that a yellow-bus pilot launched last year serving Henry Ford High School and East English Village Preparatory Academy at Finney.

More counselors and assistant principals—plus pay raises

Michigan Public reported DPSCD is seeking to reduce administrative burdens by hiring nine more school counselors and about 12 more assistant principals. The district wants a ratio of one counselor for every 250 students, according to the American School Counselor Association.

Both Michigan Public and BridgeDetroit reported the budget includes pay raises for all employees. BridgeDetroit also described the added staffing and classroom-supplies funding aimed at supporting student outcomes.

Security upgrades included in the budget

For school safety, Michigan Public reported the budget includes an increase in modern metal detectors at neighborhood high schools, large K-8 schools, and Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School. The reporting also said DPSCD maintains funding secured last year for additional security guards and police officers.

Teacher supplies funding—and what’s uncertain next

Michigan Public reported DPSCD is increasing funding for teachers to buy classroom supplies. It also described an engagement process for teachers to determine what schools need, with the goal of not asking parents to fund basic classroom materials.

Even with the board’s vote, some outcomes and funding stability remain uncertain. Michigan Public reported the budget was built conservatively because the state has not yet finalized its yearly budget. BridgeDetroit also reported that after the next school year, the district expects financial uncertainty as outside funding streams and requirements shift.

For families, the next school year’s early months will be the first real test of whether attendance incentives, expanded yellow-bus service at Pershing and Cody, and additional student-support staffing translate into measurable improvements.

Sources

• Michigan Public — Detroit schools aim to reduce absenteeism in $1.1B budget (June 17, 2026)
• BridgeDetroit — Detroit Public Schools budget adopted (coverage of board vote and spending priorities)
• Chalkbeat Detroit newsletter — June 17, 2026 (DPSCD budget adopted recap)
• BoardDocs — DPSCD FY27 Budget Presentation (PDF, June 16, 2026 UPDATED)