Detroit, MI – Detroit Public Schools Community District students are under investigation following reports of alleged fraud tied to the district’s “Perfect Attendance Pays” gift card incentive program.
In a February 14 email sent to DPSCD high school students and families, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti warned that the district has received reports of possible theft and fraudulent claims involving attendance gift cards. DPSCD Police are actively investigating the cases.
The email makes clear that both theft and false reporting of theft could result in criminal charges under state or federal law, in addition to violations of the district’s Code of Conduct. Students who may have submitted fraudulent claims are being given an opportunity to retract them before investigations move forward, though disciplinary consequences could still apply.
The investigation centers around the district’s “Perfect Attendance Pays” initiative, which offers high school students $100 electronic gift cards for each consecutive 5-day cycle of perfect attendance between January and March. Students can earn up to $1,000 during the winter term if they attend every hour of every school day in each qualifying cycle. Approved field trips and in-school activities count toward attendance.
The program is funded using interest earned from money set aside for future facility projects. District leadership has promoted the initiative as a strategy to combat chronic absenteeism, particularly during winter months when attendance historically declines.
However, the fraud investigation comes against a broader backdrop of attendance concerns across the district.
More than 60% of DPSCD students were labeled chronically absent during the 2025 school year. A student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of the school year. In a typical 180-day school calendar, that means missing at least 18 days, or more than three full weeks of instruction.
At the same time, the district recently reported a record 83.2% graduation rate for 2025.
The contrast raises broader oversight questions. With more than 60% of students classified as chronically absent and a program offering up to $1,000 in attendance incentives, the financial stakes are significant. As the district investigates alleged fraudulent gift card claims, attention now turns to how replacement cards were tracked, verified, and safeguarded against misuse.
The district has not yet disclosed how many gift cards are under investigation, the total dollar amount potentially involved, whether replacement cards were issued, or whether any students have formally been charged.
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