When is the first day of school in Kalamazoo, Calhoun and Van Buren counties?

The smell of new clothes can only mean one thing this time of year: Back To School!

The day of dread for students and/or the day parents are dreaming about is right around the corner.

Kalamazoo Public Schools half-day for Kindergarten through 12th grade is Tuesday, Sept. 3rd. The first full day of school is Wednesday, Sept. 4 

Battle Creek area schools are a little different according to the Battle Creek Enquirer,

For the 2019-2020 school year, Pennfield Schools,Harper Creek Community Schools and Battle CreekPublic Schools will start classes on Aug. 21. LakeviewSchool District will start on Sept. 3 because of renovations taking place at two elementary school buildings.

Van Buren County School District first day of school is Tuesday, September 3rd.


 

Is it time to stop this first day of school after Labor Day thing?  Many Michigan school districts are working to start school before Labor Day.  In fact, that may be the case for Kalamazoo schools in the next year or two.  This is already the case for some Battle Creek schools.

Studies have shown increased test scored from students starting school earlier in the year.  However, Michigan's economy gets a huge benefit from the late start according to theatlantic.com,

...potential classroom benefits come into conflict with the economic realities of states like Michigan, where the later start date has meant a boost of over $20 million in tourism dollars, according to a 2016 analysis by the Anderson Economic Group. In addition to added revenue from things like hotel rooms, many of the businesses catering to tourists rely on high-school students to pick up the slack, according to the study. Those same businesses are left short-staffed when classes resume prior to the busy Labor Day weekend, the study concluded.

Have a great school year students and school faculty.

 

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