State law provides that schools cannot start classes prior to Labor Day. In 2009 Labor Day is September 7 so the first day of school will be Tuesday, September 8. This will put our last day of school on about June 9, 2010 or later if there are snow days. If this law weren't in effect the first day of school would most likely be August 31 or September 1 with the last day June 1 or 2.
The Minnesota Association of School Administrators will be lobbying for a change in the law so that school can start prior to Labor Day. It is our opinion that local school districts should be able to determine the school calendar that best fits the interests of the local school district.
I would be interested in hearing your opinions on this via this blog.
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6 comments:
I could go either way on the start date but I have heard that MN has adopted this law to allow our numerous resorts and lake cabins to use this final weekend for families to have one last get away and these establishments rely on that holidays income. If schools started early many would not travel. It is also a traditional weekend to close cabins up for the season. I would think that many in the northern towns of MN would fight to keep that law in place.
I don't like the late ending to the school year when Labor Day falls so late. But it seems (to me) like other breaks could be shortened, i.e. around Christmas or skip having the day before Thanksgiving off. I agree with the other comment that the tourism industry would fight the school starting law; they also rely on a lot of HS workers to still be available that weekend.
Individual districts should have the choice.
I LOVE the idea of starting before Labor Day and being out before Memorial Day. It still means a three day weekend for Labor Day.
I would not be interested in deleting non-school dates from Christmas or spring breaks in order to end earlier yet start after Labor Day.
For families who are not opposed to their child missing school for a vacation, then the school start and end dates won't matter anyway.
I agree with JMK, but wonder are districts such as ours interested in an exemption when Labor Day is "late," or autonomy in determining when classes begin? Great blog!
As an educator I think the district should be allowed to determine there start and end dates, but I feel there has to be some guidelines to follow by the state. What would stop a district from starting at the beginning or the middle of August or changing the dates from year to year as they choose?
I truly do not like the thought of getting out of school so late in June and also strongly feel that the first day or two of school is more or a less a transition for students, going over rules, policies, and etc... Why not start school two days before Labor Day, give students as well as teachers a time to ease back into the rigors of teaching and learning.
Any news on the lobbying for an earlier start date?
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