The City of Birmingham, in partnership with the Penny Foundation Inc., is investing in student success by offering $43,000 in incentives to encourage families to have their students registered and present on the first day of school, Thursday, Aug. 7.
Through this initiative, two families from each Birmingham City School will be randomly selected to receive $500 each, no strings attached. The effort aims to reduce chronic absenteeism and ensure that students are prepared for the start of the new year.
“The first day of school sets the tone for the entire year. We want every student in Birmingham to walk through those doors ready to learn, and every family to know their city stands with them,” said Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “This investment is not just about attendance—it’s about building brighter futures for our children.”
“We are proud to partner with the City to remove barriers for families and help ensure that Birmingham students show up ready to succeed," said Lyord Watson Jr., executive director of the Penny Foundation. "Investments like this can make a big difference in changing a child’s trajectory.”
How the incentive works:
To qualify, students must be both registered and present on the first day of school.
Student names will be randomly drawn from Birmingham City Schools’ student information system.
The incentive will be awarded to the primary guardian of the selected student.
Only one incentive will be awarded per household.
“Attendance on day one is critical—not just for our students’ learning, but also for determining the resources and funding our schools will receive for the entire year," said Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan."This initiative is a game-changer for our families and our district.”
This initiative complements the City’s Every Day Counts partnership with the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD) to address chronic absenteeism. Through this program, HABD public housing residents gain access to additional resources that support regular attendance and improved literacy, including:
Transportation assistance to and from school
Homework help and academic support
Monthly raffles for HABD households whose children achieve perfect attendance, with winners receiving financial support toward a housing expense
For more information, go to www.birminghamal.gov/readydayone.