It’s back to school time in Ohio, but future first days might not happen until after Labor Day.
Sen. Gayle Manning introduced a bill last week that would push back the first day for public and private schools into September. Manning said she heard from several Northeast Ohio parents who were upset with mid-August start dates.
Manning, a North Ridgeville Republican and former elementary school teacher, said schools have started earlier and earlier over the years to accommodate sports and testing, leaving less time for family vacations.
Local school districts already can decide under current law to start school later. Manning said she favors local control but this is one area where state legislators should step in.
The bill requires every public and private school to open after Labor Day beginning with the 2017-18 school year.
But such a change wouldn’t be statewide at first. The bill exempts districts that have entered into collective bargaining agreements including school start dates or calendars until the next agreement is drafted. And schools could opt out of the post-Labor Day start date if they believe it’s in the “best interest” of the school.
And the bill is silent on an end date. Manning said she’s not trying to shorten the school year, and many schools have room in their calendars after the state switched from measuring education time in days to hours.
In addition to giving families more late-summer vacation time, Manning gave a few other reasons for her bill:
- Many schools lack air conditioning and students don’t learn as well in hot classrooms.
- Students could work more hours at summer jobs and seasonal businesses could stay open longer.
The Ohio School Board’s Association opposes the idea of a state-mandated calendar.
Damon Asbury, the association’s director of legislative services, said school boards start the year before Labor Day for several reasons:
- Teachers and students have more time to prepare for spring standardized testing.
- The first semester can be completed before winter break.
- Schools can close earlier in the summer.
He recommended parents concerned about the school calendar contact their local school boards instead of support a state mandate, albeit one with a way for schools to not follow it.
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