Student count day arrives for Detroit Public Schools

Public school districts across Michigan are preparing for the first student count day of the new school year.

Fall count day on Wednesday will determine 90 percent of per-pupil funding for the 2012-2013 academic year. A winter count day in February makes up the remaining 10 percent.

The per-pupil average will be calculated after count day data is audited.

"We need stuff here.  We need title one money.  We need it all here so we can do all the extra stuff that we want to do," says Stephanie Johnson, a senior at the Detroit Communication and Media Arts High School.

Many schools hold special events to encourage students come to class. 

"We need to educate these kids and we always say, 'If they're in school, we can educate them, we'll guarantee you that.  But if they're not in school, we're guaranteed we cannot educate them," says Roy Roberts, the Emergency Manager for Detroit Public Schools.

Fox 2's Al Allen reports that Detroit Public Schools will give some students netbooks for attending classes on count day.

Distribution of about 19,000 netbooks will begin on count day and continue through the end of the month.