Things You Need to Know During the 2016-17 School Year

Today is the official first day of school for 1.5 million Michigan students.  It's going to be a longer school year for many.   And the ax may come down on some of the chronically worst performing schools in the state.

Here are several things you need to know for the 2016-2017 school year:

1.  Longer school year:  Many of you will find the school year is going to be longer.  How much longer?  As many as five days.

2.  Closing failing schools:  If your kids attend a low performing school, the state School Reform Office is talking tough about possibly closing chronically failing schools that are showing no improvement.

3.  Genocide education:  Starting this school year, it will be mandatory for schools to add lessons about genocide to the social studies curriculum for grades 8-12.

Just click right here on Detroit Free Press for all the information you need regarding things you need to know about the new school year.