diff --git a/stages/utils.py b/stages/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6b5cdb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stages/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+
+def school_year(date, as_tuple=False):
+    """
+    Return the school year of 'date'. Example:
+      * as_tuple = False: "2013 — 2014"
+      * as_tuple = True: [2013, 2014]
+    """
+    if date.month < 8:
+        start_year = date.year - 1
+    else:
+        start_year = date.year
+    if as_tuple:
+        return (start_year, start_year + 1)
+    else:
+        return "%d — %d" % (start_year, start_year + 1)