Count Day in Missouri
By : Deanna C. Childress, Ph.D.
Published On: Nov. 6, 2025
Every fall and winter, Missouri schools take part in what may seem like a routine data task: reporting student enrollment on Count Day. But this process is more than a clerical requirement. The numbers submitted on these days drive state funding, federal allocations, and accountability systems that shape the resources and opportunities available to students across the state.
What is Count Day?
Missouri has two official Count Days each year: the last Wednesday in September and the last Wednesday in January. These dates provide standardized snapshots of student enrollment across all districts and charter schools. The September count offers an early look at enrollment for the year, while the January count verifies midyear enrollment. Together, they ensure that LEAs are funded based on students who are enrolled and attending.
Why does it matter?
The policy implications of Count Day are significant:
Funding: Enrollment counts feed directly into Missouri’s foundation formula and into allocations for federal programs like Title I. Even small discrepancies can affect district budgets.
Accountability: Count Day data influences average daily attendance, a factor tied to accreditation and performance monitoring. These counts also form the basis for MAP testing seats at each LEA.
Equity: Enrollment trends highlight shifts in student populations—such as mobility, new English Learner populations, or rising needs among vulnerable groups—which shape how resources are targeted.
What this means for administrators
For district leaders, Count Day requires careful preparation. Rosters must be accurate, attendance must be documented, and systems must be aligned with DESE reporting requirements. Missing or inaccurate data can reduce funding, misrepresent student needs, and complicate planning.
How Billiken Data Corps can help
For many districts, especially those with limited administrative capacity, preparing for Count Day is a heavy lift. The technical and compliance requirements are complex, and mistakes have real consequences. That is where the Billiken Data Corps (BDC) steps in.
Our mission is to partner with districts to ensure their data is accurate, timely, and useful — not only for compliance with Count Day reporting, but for ongoing decision-making that strengthens outcomes for students. By providing skilled support in data entry, validation, and analysis, the Corps helps districts maximize resources, reduce the burden on staff, and turn Count Day from a compliance exercise into an opportunity to drive smarter policy and practice.
The bigger picture
Count Day is not just about numbers; it is about making sure every student is counted, every dollar is allocated fairly, and every school has the resources it needs to serve its community. By strengthening local data capacity through efforts like the Billiken Data Corps, Missouri schools can use Count Day not only to meet compliance requirements, but to build stronger systems for equity and student success.
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Every fall and winter, Missouri schools take part in what may seem like a routine data task: reporting student enrollment on Count Day. But this process is more than a clerical requirement. The numbers submitted on these days drive state funding, federal allocations, and accountability systems that shape the resources and opportunities available to students across the state.