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Later school start sought Legislation introduced Wednesday would force school systems to start classes no earlier than late August, starting this year. The proposal would require systems to establish a start date for the school year no earlier than the last Monday in August and no later than the Wednesday after Labor Day. That means school would start between Aug. 29 and Sept. 7 next school year — significantly later than the start dates approved by most local systems. Some parents, angered by school start dates that have moved into early August, cheered the proposal. But school board members say it is their responsibility to make decisions about school year calendars and promise a fight. "You can assume that school boards around the state will do everything they can to try to stop that bill from passing," said Curt Johnston, a Cobb County school board member. Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox could not be reached Wednesday, but previously has stated her opposition to a universal start date for public schools. A uniform start will prevent schools from using innovative schedules that help catch-up students who fall behind, she has said. The bill was introduced by Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Garden City). It also was signed by House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island), as well as other Republican and Democrat House members. Stephens is chairman of the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee. But he said parents are driving the proposal more than businesses that rely on summer tourists, which lose money when kids go back to school in early August. "The No. 1 concern is families," he said. "If these crazy start dates are educating our children better, show me." Lane Holt, a Cobb County parent who has lobbied for a later start to school for more than a year, said parents have turned to lawmakers for help because "they have not been able to get the support of their local school boards on this." Holt, a founder of the Cobb-based parent group Georgians Need Summers, said her group's e-mail distribution list now stretches into Middle Georgia and South Georgia. "A lot of these parents say there's so much more to the education of a child than going to school," Holt said. Cobb County, along with most metro Atlanta school systems, began school this year Aug. 9. This coming year, Cobb plans to begin Aug. 10. A later start to the school year will force high school students to take their final exams after the winter holiday break, said Johnston. That has the potential to lower student achievement. He doesn't buy the argument that the traditional summer has disappeared. "Everybody's got at least 10 weeks of summer," he said. "How much summer do you need?" Herb Garrett, executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association, said he thinks tourism interests are driving the idea. He said the decision belongs with local systems who can tailor a starting date to meet a local need. "This is just one of those things where local systems believe the General Assembly has no business messing in," he said. State Rep. Joe Wilkinson, (R-Alpharetta), a co-sponsor of the bill, said the state is losing millions in tourism revenue. The legislation duplicates a bill that was introduced last year, but died in committee. This year, the environment has changed in the Legislature, and among parents, Wilkinson said. Michael Goodman, who lives in Forsyth County, said the early start dates make it difficult for him to coordinate summer visits with his grandchildren. "Sitting in a classroom in August has got to be awful," he said. "It's terrible to start that early." — Staff writer Kristina Torres contributed to this article. |
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