[Octm] FW: U.S. School Start Times Vary Widely E/P NBS#2118

[Weinand, Stacey]

FYI-I just found this interesting.

Stacey

 

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From: NASSMC-NBS at nassmc.org [mailto:NASSMC-NBS at nassmc.org] 
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 8:04 AM
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Subject: U.S. School Start Times Vary Widely E/P NBS#2118

 


NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF STATE SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS COALITIONS
News Brief #2118 Category: Education Policy 
TITLE: "School Start Times Vary Widely in U.S."

While schools are now following the same rules when it comes to testing,
there is no national consensus about the school calendar. School
districts, even within the same state, vary widely on their start dates
for the school year. 

Among the many factors that affect the school calendar are county fairs,
the need for teenage labor, and teacher contracts. 

In northern Maine, for example, school starts in the second week of
August so that high schools can shut down and free up teenage workers
for the potato harvest in September.  

In Virginia, a state law influenced by the tourism needs of the King's
Dominion theme park prohibits schools from opening before Labor Day,
unless they receive state permission. 

In Rock Hill, South Carolina, schools open August 6 in order to
accommodate holiday schedules and test preparation. 

In general, school start times are getting earlier. According to Market
Data Retrieval, about three out of four schools start classes before
September 1. Fifteen years ago, just half of schools started that early.


SOURCE: Washington Post (Associated Press), 16 August 2003 
WEBSITE:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3386-2003Aug16.html 

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