Northern Michigan found a way to cut school absenteeism. Lansing may defund it
Michigan’s School Success Partnership program, which reduces chronic absenteeism in rural schools by addressing family barriers, faces defunding in the 2026-27 state budget despite its success in improving attendance and grades. The program, operating in 12 counties, has cut absenteeism rates below state averages in 16 of 20 participating schools, but its $1.5 million state allocation is missing from proposed budgets by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and lawmakers.
A nonprofit-led initiative in Michigan’s northeast region has proven effective in tackling chronic school absenteeism, but its future is uncertain as state funding may be eliminated. The School Success Partnership program, run by the Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency, places liaisons in over 50 schools to address barriers like transportation, family crises, and basic needs. In 2024-25, 16 of 20 participating elementary schools had absenteeism rates below Michigan’s K-5 average of 24.7%, including Onaway Elementary, which dropped from 20.6% to 12.8% after adding a liaison in 2023-24. The program’s approach focuses on family engagement, offering support such as lice treatment, emotional counseling, and food assistance to remove obstacles to attendance. Director Dorothy Pintar noted that addressing basic needs allows families to prioritize their children’s education. Higher attendance correlates with academic improvement, according to Tina Williams, director of Alternative Education in Iosco and Ogemaw counties, who emphasized that in-school support is critical for student progress. Despite its success, the program’s funding is at risk. Nearly half of its $1.5 million budget comes from a state allocation absent in Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s and legislative proposals for 2026-27. Local officials, including Sanborn Elementary Principal Kori Knudson, argue the cuts are ironic given Michigan’s struggling literacy rates and high chronic absenteeism—ranked the worst in the Midwest at 28%. The program’s expansion since 1991 aligns with declining state test scores, with Michigan’s fourth graders last outperforming the national reading average in 2003. Critics highlight the program’s role as a lifeline for vulnerable students, noting that without it, schools lack resources to build family relationships or address systemic barriers. The proposed defunding has sparked concern among educators who credit the initiative for stabilizing attendance and grades in underserved communities. Without intervention, the loss of funding could reverse progress in regions where chronic absenteeism remains a critical challenge.
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