When I was in school, it began the week after. Now, most schools begin sometime in August.
We always started the Tuesday after labor day. At one point, some teachers were showing us the proposal for year-round school, something like ten week quarters, with a two week break between each, with six weeks off in August. We all looked at each other, trying to figure out how they were going to squeeze six weeks into August.
School should begin after Labor Day. Everyone in Minnesota had this confirmed this year.
In Texas, we should start in August. If you start after Labor Day, you go into the second week of June. One can still be outside and enjoy it in June; August is miserably hot: you might as well be in school. I’d much rather have cool(ish) June free than hot August.
I don’t think it matters.
I live in North Carolina and I believe that the approximately 12 weeks of vacation between grades should occur in the months of March, April and May because that is the time of year that it is so delightful to be outside that to be inside at school is sad. Since it is too damn hot to be outside in June, July and August, might as well be inside the air conditioning.
When I was in school we started right after Labor Day. OTOH, today kids have to learn computing (and probably other newer subjects), so they NEED that extra month to be able to deal with the increased curriculum.
We started the last week of August, but I voted after Labor Day.
When I was in school, after Labor Day, which it did and still does in Michigan. Now that my kids are in school (but just one left, now), August is good. Let’s keep it in August. I’d even be willing to consider July.
My daughter started July 31st this year. I think they had 9 weeks off.
They don’t get an extra month. Schools starting in August end mid-May, instead of June.
After Labor Day, which is the law for public schools in Michigan. Many families take advantage of the holiday for one last family outing of the summer. Besides, many schools are not air conditioned and August can be hellishly hot.
My grandson’s school started in early August, and the school year ends around June 1st, adjusted for snow days.
When I started teaching, school started the last week of August and ended the first week in June. Now it starts the first week (sometimes the first day) of August and ends by Memorial Day for the kids. The difference comes from Georgia school systems shifting their schedule to match the University System of Georgia’s schedule and adding more days off during the year.
I’m retired now so I don’t care either way any more.
Today was the first day of school in my district. The last day is June 3rd. That’s how it was when I was growing up (same state, MN, different district).
I think it should be after Labor Day so the kids can get the most out of summer. The only excuse I hear for having school start in mid/late August is so they can get their testing done before Christmas break. At least in Virginia all this SOL (Standards of Learning) test prep has taken over much of the classroom time and given the teachers and pupils a lot of pressure.
I voted for after Labor Day - like when I was a kid.
That said, I have family members who are still teaching in Illinois (where I grew up) and they have mentioned that starting earlier (mid-August) gives them leeway for those snow days they have to make up. Otherwise, depending on how many days they have to close due to blizzards, they might wind up having to keep classes going until mid-June.
I don’t know how they did it back when I was a kid, but we started the day after Labor Day and ended just before Memorial Day and that was it. Maybe the laws changed and they didn’t have to make up those “snow days” back then?
This poll is very narrow minded. There are so many more options than late August or after Labor Day.
I think school should begin whenever. In other words, leave it up to the school district, individual school, etc.
Since 6th grade, my son (now in 10th) has gone to a school that starts the first week in August and is out the end of May/first of June. We love it. To make up for the short summer, they have a two week break in between each quarter. So, two weeks for fall, two weeks for winter (traditional) and then two week for spring. It’s very evenly spaced. We also get a week for Thanksgiving, as well as all the traditional one day holidays throughout the year.
We are coming up on our two week fall break at the end of September. We don’t take summer vacations when it’s hot and crowded, we take annual fall vacations when the weather is cool, travel is cheaper and less crowded.
Given the choice no way would we go back to traditional school year.
We always start mid-August. I don’t see any reason to start later. I enjoy school letting out for summer in May.
Early to mid-August. Labor Day should be the first three-day weekend, not the last hurrah before school starts. If you start early enough, you can finish the first semester before Christmas Break, and graduate late May.