Why Do Some Kids Go Back To School So Early (next Week?) And Some After Labor Day?

[Burnell]

We are in PA and they go back after Labor Day. I don't remember ever going to school in August. Why am I hearing about so many schools starting in August - I mean a couple weeks before Labor Day? So they can end the year sooner?(I'm talking about K-12, not college).

[Grantham]

Depends on the school board The school board makes these decisions.  Every year our school changes the dates.  For a while the first semester ended right before Christmas so kids could have their finals and not have to worry about studying over vacation.  Now they have changed it again.  Our schools end late May and a school in Rochester, NY ends in July.  I think that school has a long break in the Fall.  Everyone is different. Hannah22 77 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Avent]

Different Reasons I heard some folks say that schools were starting after Labor Day were because they could save money that way.  I went to school in Ohio and we always started after Labor Day too.  Now, in southeastern Idaho, they start in August because kids get out for two weeks in late Sept/early Oct. for potato harvest.  In some areas it may be so they don't have to extend the school year in June if there are quite a few days lost due to weather. cc7525 77 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Eyou]

I heard some folks say that schools were starting after Labor Day were because they could save money that way.  I went to school in Ohio and we always started after Labor Day too.  Now, in southeastern Idaho, they start in August because kids get out for two weeks in late Sept/early Oct. for potato harvest.  In some areas it may be so they don't have to extend the school year in June if there are quite a few days lost due to weather.

[Humbert]

Many of the school districts have extended their school year in an effort to improve the education of their students.  The No Child Left Behind has put a lot of pressure on schools to improve their performance each year.  Extending the school year is an effort towards this goal.  Since the scores for NCLB comes from yearly tests, it benefits the schools to start earlier.  It gives them more learning opportunities before the tests which are given in the spring.

[bernd]

No Child Left Behind and high stakes tests Many of the school districts have extended their school year in an effort to improve the education of their students.  The No Child Left Behind has put a lot of pressure on schools to improve their performance each year.  Extending the school year is an effort towards this goal.  Since the scores for NCLB comes from yearly tests, it benefits the schools to start earlier.  It gives them more learning opportunities before the tests which are given in the spring. Listen_N-Learn 77 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[stefan]

school shedules differ i don't know about other places, but where we live here(northern ca), we have very severly overcrowded schools and most of the ones in our neighborhood are on a year round school schedule.  that way, only 2/3 or 3/4 of the enrolled students are at the school at any given time.  there are a few weeks out of the school year when the whole school is off, but for the most part, vacation is on a rotating basis..   some of the tracks start as early as july.... (yes, when it is 100+ degrees outside)   hope this answers your question! Sources: personal experience kp02 77 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Joseba]

i don't know about other places, but where we live here(northern ca), we have very severly overcrowded schools and most of the ones in our neighborhood are on a year round school schedule.  that way, only 2/3 or 3/4 of the enrolled students are at the school at any given time.  there are a few weeks out of the school year when the whole school is off, but for the most part, vacation is on a rotating basis..   some of the tracks start as early as july.... (yes, when it is 100+ degrees outside)   hope this answers your question!

[gwen]

The school board makes these decisions.  Every year our school changes the dates.  For a while the first semester ended right before Christmas so kids could have their finals and not have to worry about studying over vacation.  Now they have changed it again.  Our schools end late May and a school in Rochester, NY ends in July.  I think that school has a long break in the Fall.  Everyone is different.

[Frederick]

One reason is to end the year earlier(remember, teachers and principals also want to get that Memorial day start on summer). An earlier start is also used in some places to create longer breaks during the school year(e.g. an extra week of winter vacation), and support more professional days. And an earlier start can allow the first half to end easily before Christmas; no studying over the holidays. Some districts are also looking to lengthen the school year so kids can learn more(remember, most of the world has much longer school years than we do ? e.g. India 220 days, Japan 243, China 270), but mostly this is to allow an earlier release in June or at Memorial Day.   Frankly, I loved my summers ? they gave me the time to fill my days with nothing, and I think I grew better and wiser for it.   http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/08/12/INGQVREOIJ1.DTL