Don't Call It A Bribe, Detroit Public Schools Offer Chance At iPads And More To Students To Attend School

DETROIT (WWJ) - They are not calling it a bribe, but Detroit Public School officials are offering special incentives to get kids to come to school Wednesday on Count Day, when attendance determines how much state aid districts receive.

The Detroit Public Schools is sponsoring a new contest called "Eat To Win On Count Day," to help boost attendance.

"The menu is special it amounts to the kind of meal you'd serve on a special occasion or holiday for your families; it includes BBQ chicken and a peach cobbler and a number of items like that," said DPS Spokesperson Steve Wasko. "Still in a healthy vein, but really a much more extensive and exquisite lunch than would be a typical days experience in a cafeteria."

Wasko tells WWJ that attendence is an important issue every day of the year.

"We wouldn't think for one moment that a family would chose one school over another based on whether or not one is giving out an iPad mini verses something that maybe the incentive at the other school down the street. It really is just a call for awareness, for a day that is critical for us to be able to count students for the funding," said Wasko.

In addition to the special menu, students will have a chance to win a variety of prizes as an incentive to get them to show up to school.

Prizes include iPad Minis, gift cards, 200 bikes for grades K-8 and more. Approximately one of every four high school students will win a prize for full attendance on Count Day, school officials said.