Most of today’s parents recall a long summer when the school bell wasn’t ringing again until after Labor Day, but in recent years the start date has crept up earlier and earlier in the region.
Last week, the Indiana Senate Education Committee approved the proposal of Senate Bill 150. A positive vote from the Senate will mean the students in elementary schools and high schools in the state will not return from summer break until after Labor Day beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.
Opponents often turn to test scores and claim that an earlier school start can make a difference in academic performance.
Three states already mandate that schools cannot begin before Labor Day – Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia. And in Wisconsin, Iowa and North Carolina, schools cannot begin prior to September 1.
Currently, there is no guideline in Illinois. It is customary for the Chicago Public Schools to begin their school year follow Labor Day, but throughout the rest of the state, the school year start date varies from district to district.
Some states, including Kentucky, have moved start dates up to mid-August or earlier. In such states, the start date can have an effect on the local economy because of a shortened tourism season.
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