Detroit district wants to provide preschool for all 4-year-olds

The Detroit school district plans to provide preschool to all of the city’s 4-year-olds, offer music and art programs after school and allow schools to house educational and social services 12 hours a day and seven days a week as part of an effort to attract and retain students. The Detroit Free Press says the plan put forth by Roy Roberts, the district's emergency manager, is largely unfunded and will rely heavily on partnerships, grant funds, and fund-raising by the DPS Foundation, a non-profit that operates separately from the district. The plan also includes four school closures this summer; Roberts has rejected earlier proposals that called for closing 28 schools over the next five years.