Schools Get Ready For Count Day ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - School districts across Michigan are putting on a big push to make sure their students are in class tomorrow. It's the annual count day, and it has a big impact on school funding.

Michigan funds its schools on a per student basis. More students equals more money. But the state relies heavily on one day to calculate attendance: count day.

So school districts do everything they can to make sure students don't miss count day. Last year, some schools in Detroit raffled off iPods.

In Grand Rapids this year, district leaders have held rallies, sent out fliers and knocked on doors.

District spokesman John Helmholdt says it's like a get-out-the vote campaign.

"We've really energized the city into supporting our efforts as we aim to really ensure that we have the appropriate funding to educate all of the students that we serve," he says.

Helmholdt says Grand Rapids Public Schools expects to lose about 900 students this year. © Copyright 2009, Michigan Radio