Count Day Carries Major Consequences for Detroit DEARBORN, MICH. (Michigan Radio) - School "count day" is tomorrow in Michigan. The tally will determine how much per-pupil state aid each school district will receive from Lansing this year.

Count day has consistently delivered bad news for Detroit Public Schools. And this year's tally carries the threat of major changes to the district.

Between 1997 and 2007, Detroit Public Schools lost more than 70,000 students. That's more twice as many students as there are in Michigan's second-largest school district.

This year, the number of Detroit students is expected to drop below 100,000. That's kind of a magic number - because it's the state's threshold for labeling a school system a "first-class" district. Until now, Detroit has been the only district in the state to fit that description.

Without that designation, a number of things could happen that Detroit's protected against now. Key among them is that two community colleges would be allowed to open charter schools inside the district's borders.

Other changes could affect the size and responsibilities of the school board. And some interpretations of state law suggest neighboring suburban districts could open programs in the city.

Detroit school officials are asking the Legislature to change the law to shield it from those changes.

Contact Sarah Hulett at sarahhu@umich.edu © Copyright 2009, Michigan Radio