Is school starting early?

**Nana2two** · 07-17-2009, 03:53 PM

I noticed school starting earlier this year.We don't start till the end of August but this year its 2 weeks earlier.I thought maybe it has something to with the stimulas plan and school getting more taxes back and so the school would have to start earlier, who knows. the pools around here are shutting down earlier every day,zoo,other places like also are shutting down a hour early .Thats ok the kids are starting to get bored,we live in the country some what, most of the kids friend live in the next town, so we are down to 1 car and im not a taxi service. So they must find things to keep them self busy or have a friend spend the night on a Friday ( we will pick them up)
There parents will come and get them on Sunday night ect.

**joyofsix** · 07-17-2009, 04:03 PM

My public school kids start August 13th! I think it's horrible. I won't be starting with my homeschool kids until after Labor Day. I think we start so early so they have lots of time to prep for the ISTEP (state test).

**AmyBoz** · 07-17-2009, 04:10 PM

It's doubtful that it has to do with the stimulus. When schools start extra early here, it's usually due to construction, or something going on in town. It all evens out in the end...180 days. We get out earlier next year because they are cutting some of our vacations throughout the year. I remind the students that they aren't missing any school days...they are just going at different times.

**mauimagic** · 07-17-2009, 04:15 PM

Out state (one school district) has changed schedules and is yet changing them again. We used to start in mid August, now it is end July with only a six week summer break. Next year it will start the same, but end at the end of May because they are changing breaks within the year = 8 weeks off next summer.

Since I teach summer school for children with disabilities, I had a week off at the beginning of summer. It has been well worth it - the children are really doing well and making gains they hadn't made before.

Whatever happened to starting after Labor Day?

**Nana2two** · 07-17-2009, 04:28 PM

I know that the EASTER vacation was cut short by a whole week becuase of snow days.They got out 4 days early becuase of snow days to. Who knows.

**AmyBoz** · 07-17-2009, 04:31 PM

That being said, I find that in the Northeast, we tend to start after Labor Day, but in the midwest, they start later. It stems from the farming seasons on the farms in the midwest, way back when. Kids were needed on the farms, so they got out in May so they were available in June.

**Michelle** · 07-17-2009, 04:46 PM

This is the first time I've known MA schools to start BEFORE Labor Day. It's always been the Wednesday after. This year my kids go back on Sept 2nd, and then they have Labor Day off (LD is on the following Monday Sept 7th).

**jamie79** · 07-17-2009, 05:36 PM

I live in Wisconsin and my son starts Sept 2nd. Labor Day is late this yr so thats why

**Mamaof2rugrats** · 07-17-2009, 05:38 PM

We're in mo and the kids start school on the 18th of august. I can't wait! The step kids are driving me plumb crazy!

**gapeach** · 07-17-2009, 05:42 PM

My cousin is a teacher and she goes back July 27th and the kids start July 30th. I think that's too early.

**ladykemma2** · 07-17-2009, 05:49 PM

this is the reason: testing (NCLB) (TAKS testing in Texas), is the third or fourth week of april. the kids have to be ready, so school districts have been putting an additional 2 weeks on the front end. we finish our curriculum the last day of april and the last month of school is a joke. schools were inching towards 1 of august.

the texas state legislature stepped in and mandated that school WILL start the last week of august. period. the end.

this year they made us make us the hurricane IKE week, so we really just messed around the last 4 weeks of school.

**imagine** · 07-17-2009, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by ladykemma2

we finish our curriculum the last day of april and the last month of school is a joke.

That is one reason our school here does looping -where you have the same teacher or set of teachers for 2 years. They finish the years lessons before the test and start on next years stuff. The looping groups have higher learning and thus test scores because of this and because the teachers and students don't' have to spend the first of the year getting to know one another. They already know the students and the students already know what to expect.

**Jamielane** · 07-17-2009, 06:51 PM

We always start the Tuesday after Labor Day here. MIchigan passed a state law a few years back that states public schools dont begin until after then.

**Trishagirl** · 07-17-2009, 06:58 PM

Our school starts Aug 18th and that's earlier from last year about a week. I don't know why poor kids don't have much of a summer anymore. When I went to school we went back after Labor Day!

**Nana2two** · 07-17-2009, 06:58 PM

mama i hear ya. when ya have old kids, im in IL and thats when mine go back also.Mine is 17 and 14, they are are up my behine 24/7 and just not much for to do and i just cant get anything done becuase they do want me to constantly be there for there, which i have learned to work and listned at the same time. but some times, i love to just clean the house when no one is home.. My oldest is 24 today. They have been out since May 28th. They love school would love to start back on monday if they could.