As some schools are starting earlier and earlier, allegedly to get ready for standardized tests, frustrated parents are writing letters to urge their state governments to set the school start dates later - and make them consistent across schools:
...some Georgia politicians say they've heard from enough frustrated parents to consider stepping in and passing a law that would push back the first day of school and making it the same day for all schools across the state.
This year, classes resumed the first week of August in some Georgia school systems. Almost every school was back in session by Aug. 9. That's in contrast to some states, where school starts in late August or early September, and nearly a full month before the week of Labor Day - when school traditionally began in Georgia.
"I just don't see any advantage. I have not seen anything - in studies or the results of testing - that shows this is the better way," said Barb Twist, an Athens mother whose 11-year-old daughter has been back in class for weeks.
If early starts don't help with test scores, they may be an unnecessary expense - and it is expensive in the Deep South to keep a public building open in the heat of August. On the other hand, the schools let out in May instead of June, which is more in line with the college schedules. Be interesting to see how much support this gets.
Posted by kswygert at August 30, 2004 04:04 PM