Education Bill Gives Schools Option of Pre-Labor Day Start

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota lawmakers are giving school districts a chance to get their academic years started sooner this fall.

An education plan set for upcoming votes by the Legislature would allow all districts to resume classes on Sept. 1 for the coming year only. Current law requires most public schools to wait until after Labor Day to get started. But Labor Day is late this year, falling on Sept. 7.

The school start debate is always a lively one in the Legislature because lawmakers from resort areas argue an earlier start depresses late-summer vacations. Supporters say waiting too long means a school year that stretches into June.

The bill also says that school districts that have four-day academic weeks would have permission to keep that calendar through the 2019-20 school year.