By Biba Adams, Staff Writer and Report for America corps member
On Monday, August 24th, thousands of Detroit scholars went back to school. From Head Start to soon-to-be high school graduates, Detroit Public Schools Community District students have returned to school.
The District has experienced some challenges. Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti has been criticized online by a social media influencer who alleges that the superintendent has not fairly allocated funds for building repairs.
However, despite the criticism, Dr. Vitti can tout improving reading scores through the District and focus on reducing chronic student absenteeism.
The Michigan Chronicle spoke to Dr. Vitti, who shared some of his advice for how DPSCD parents can ensure an excellent school year, as well as how educators can be their best during the 2026-2027 school year.
Michigan Chronicle: What is your best advice for having a great school year?
Dr. Nikolai Vitti: Having a great school year starts with committing to attend school every day. We know that students who have consistent attendance (fewer than 18 days absent) are three to four times more likely to be at or above grade level on the M-STEP and college-ready on the SAT. It also means setting goals and striving each day to meet them. Parents, support your child by helping them get to school on time each day, finding a way to read with them each night, and talking to them about their goals and the successes and challenges that come with each day of school. It also means creating quiet time each night for homework and/or reading. This means turning off the TV and putting away phones. Lastly, it means making an effort to know each of your child’s teachers.
Michigan Chronicle: What goes into making a great school day?
Dr. Vitti: A great school day starts before a student walks through the school doors. Students need a good night’s sleep and should arrive on time and ready to learn. That is why attendance is such an important part of creating a successful school day. Having a great school day also means approaching school with a positive attitude and promoting curiosity and excitement about learning. Lastly, it is about building positive relationships with teachers and classmates and avoiding relationships that are not positive or conducive to academic and behavioral success.
Michigan Chronicle: What resources do you have for parents who may be concerned about resources like school supplies and uniforms?
Dr. Vitti: This spring, the DPSCD Board approved $4.5 million to provide each student with a Student Supply Kit. This meant that families were not asked by schools or teachers to provide classroom supplies. We believe every student deserves access to the resources necessary to thrive in the classroom. We also knew that by providing these supplies, we were reducing barriers to learning. We provide uniform assistance through our schools for families who need it. Families can contact their school office for information about uniform assistance and school-specific requirements. They can also visit our Family Resource and Development Center (FRDC) for additional support. Health Hubs are also open across the District and city to provide any DPSCD family member with free access to primary health care, dental and vision screenings, and mental health support.
Michigan Chronicle: If a parent has concerns about their child’s performance, where do they start?
Dr. Vitti: I always encourage families to start with the person closest to their student—the teacher. If you have concerns about your child’s academic performance, attendance, or overall progress, have a conversation with the teacher. Our teachers see students every day and can help identify their strengths, areas of need, and the support they may require. If, for whatever reason, conversations with your child’s teacher are not positive, families should reach out to their child’s principal.
Michigan Chronicle: We know that there are a lot of Detroit caregivers who may not be parents—grandparents, foster parents, etc. How do you support nontraditional families?
Dr. Vitti: Every parent and caregiver plays an important role in the success of our students. At DPSCD, we see all our caregivers as partners alongside our teachers and staff. We provide extensive support to traditional and nontraditional families through our Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE). Families can connect with District representatives who can provide support and access to various resources through our FRDC and Health Hubs. Each school also has a family outreach coordinator to support families. Our FACE team also offers a Parent Academy where parents can attend classes to better support their students, regardless of whether they are traditional parents, grandparents, or foster parents.
Michigan Chronicle: What improvements has DPSCD made recently to positively impact outcomes?
Dr. Vitti: We are proud of the progress our students have made! The recently released state test results demonstrate that our students continue to improve, even as state averages have remained stagnant or, in some areas, have declined. We continue to narrow the gap between our students and the average student across the state. The 2026 Education Scorecard from Harvard and Stanford found that DPSCD students outpaced 91% of districts nationwide in reading and math recovery since the pandemic. Last year, our high school graduation rate was 83.2%, less than 1% away from the state average.
Michigan Chronicle: Children are usually nervous about starting school. What advice do you give them about having a good school year?
Dr. Vitti: I would tell every DPSCD student that it is okay to be nervous. Starting a new school year brings excitement, but it can also bring uncertainty. What I want students to know is that even though they may feel that way, the adults in our schools are there to support them, challenge them, and help them grow. Every student has gifts and talents, and our job as educators is to help them discover those strengths and develop them.
Michigan Chronicle: What is DPSCD’s primary goal for this year?
Dr. Vitti: Our primary goal is to prepare every student to be college- and/or career-ready. That means every student in every classroom deserves strong educational experiences every day. Specifically, this will be the first year of our High School Redesign, which will launch with our ninth graders and focus on wraparound supports, a cohort model, and a new seminar class. It will also continue to offer four diploma pathways—Honors, Dual Degree, Career-Ready, and Arts—and expanded dual-enrollment pathways so students can be more intentionally connected to college and career opportunities.
Best wishes to all of our students for an amazing school year. You can reach Biba at Biba.Adams@Michronicle.com
