Detroit City and School Leaders Work to Get Every Student to Class

Detroit students are heading back to school in just over a week, and city leaders want to make sure every child shows up on day one. Mayor Mary Sheffield and school officials held a news event to share new plans for helping students get to class. Their biggest focus is removing barriers that keep kids from showing up, like transportation problems. The first day of school for most Detroit students is August 24.

One of the biggest announcements is that a program called Ride to Rise is now permanent. This program gives Detroit students free rides on the Detroit Department of Transportation, known as DDOT, all year long. It is funded by $1 million from the state, so students can count on it for years to come. Mayor Sheffield said student ridership on DDOT has already doubled this year, showing that kids are using the service. The program covers more than just getting to and from school — students can also use it to get to tutoring, after-school programs, libraries, jobs, and recreation centers.

City leaders know that free transportation is a great start, but they also want students to feel safe when they ride. Chanel Hampton, the city's senior director of Youth and Education, said families and educators made it clear that safety matters just as much as cost. To help with that, the city is placing between 50 and 100 city employees on key bus routes, at transit centers, and near school bus stops every school day. These workers are called Ride to Rise ambassadors, and their job is to be a friendly, visible presence for students. Knowing a trusted adult is nearby can help students and families feel more confident about using public transit.

The city is also launching a brand-new rideshare pilot program this fall. It will focus on students at four schools where absenteeism is high and getting to school is especially hard. A rideshare service works like a scheduled car ride that picks students up and brings them to school. By targeting the schools with the greatest need, leaders hope to see attendance improve quickly. This kind of test program allows the city to see what works before expanding it further.

Attendance is a major concern because missing too many days hurts students' learning. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti of Detroit Public Schools Community District, or DPSCD, shared an important fact: when students miss 18 or fewer days a year, they are three to four times more likely to be at or above grade level in reading, math, science, and social studies. They are also more likely to be ready for college when they take the SAT. Being in school regularly makes a real difference in student success. That is why leaders are putting so much effort into solving transportation problems.

Once students arrive at school, DPSCD wants them to have everything they need to learn. The district is spending an extra $4.5 million on school supplies this year. Every student from pre-K through 12th grade will receive a supply kit. Having the right tools — like pencils, notebooks, and other materials — helps students feel prepared and ready to work. City and school leaders hope that with safe rides and full supply kits, Detroit students will have a strong start to the school year.