Back-To-School Season Arrives With A Cost

This year, K-12 families can expect to spend, on average, nearly $860, and college students are expected to spend $1,325 per person on back-to-school shopping. This comes at a time when consumer prices continue to increase, and working family budgets in Michigan are already stretched thin. Additionally, more than a third of parents won't be able to afford back-to-school shopping, and nearly half will take on debt to cover the costs. 

“As an educator, I’ve seen firsthand how financial stress can impact our students. When parents have to choose between buying notebooks or paying their utility bills, kids come to school without basic supplies, which impacts their ability to learn and fully participate,” said Clinton Township public school teacher, Todd Bloch. “Families shouldn’t have to go into debt just to get the basic tools children need for school. Pencils, pens, and paper aren’t luxury items; they are the foundation of their educational success. Our kids deserve better.” 

Michiganders are wary about the high cost of basic school supplies. The financial burden this poses on low-income families will be even more difficult as prices continue to rise. Meanwhile, new tariffs continue to roll out, and parents will be forced to pull funding from other places to buy school supplies. It is no wonder that pawn shops have become a popular location for people to get their supplies. 

Recently, members of Congress, including Congressman John James (MI-10), voted for the Republican Tax Law, which saw benefits for the ultra-wealthy increase exponentially, at the expense of low-income households. Currently, it is estimated that billions of dollars in cuts to education, health care, and nutrition assistance programs will impact hundreds of thousands of Michiganders alone. 

“When there are gaps in community support, it is up to the people to come together and fill that void. We know that many families in our district are facing challenges and not feeling heard or having their concerns addressed, but the cost of bills keeps getting higher and higher.” said Warren Turnaround School Specialist, Jocelyn Howard “This back-to-school season the children of this district will see who is really there for them when they need it the most.”