July 26, 2022
Students Return to Classrooms, Inflation Squeezes Parents
Lansing, Mich., July 26, 2022 – Inflationary prices will force parents to pay higher costs for school supplies this year as students return to classrooms after two years of online and hybrid learning challenges brought on by Governor Whitmer.
A new report shows that parents will pay 8% more this year to send their children back to school. The costs include an 18% price hike on clothing and accessories and 7% on school supplies. This year, the average parent will spend $661 per student on back-to-school items, up from $612 in 2021.
Why This Matters:
Price hikes for back-to-school supplies are another blow to Michigan families. High prices for everyday expenses such as groceries and gas, with additional impacts on property tax bills and a downturn in tourism have diminished family budgets.
“The sticker shock that parents will see for school supplies is a reminder that the Biden/Whitmer economy is failing families when they need the most help,” said Eric Ventimiglia, Executive Director for Michigan Rising Action. Ventimiglia continued, “Parents are cutting back and sacrificing other needs in their family’s budget just to stay afloat in a sea of rising costs.”
But There’s More:
Parents may be relieved that schools have reopened, however, the learning losses will take years to recover – and Whitmer has made that more difficult. Whitmer has vetoed:
- $155 million that would have provided reading scholarships for elementary students
- An educational scholarship program designed to give parents more options for their children’s educational needs.