I know many Hoosiers can remember when school started after Labor Day. That seems like a distant past because many schools are starting in the last week of July or the first week in August. Rarely do you see schools beginning after the second week in August. However, the Labor Day start date could be returning for schools in Indiana.
This week will be a busy week at the Indiana statehouse. There are a lot of interesting bills that will be presented including the Senate Education Committee Senate Bill 124. The bill is titled the First day of School and authored by Senator Dennis Kruse, Senator Jean Leising, Senator Linda Rogers, and Senator Jeff Raatz.
The digest of the bill is as follows:
First day of school. Prohibits public schools from beginning student instructional days for the school year before the Tuesday after the first Monday in September (Labor Day), beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. Provides that a governing body may establish a beginning date before Labor Day for year-round schools, schools with balanced calendars, schools that coordinate calendars with a postsecondary educational institution, and schools that coordinate calendars with a large employer in the school corporation.
I have a few questions regarding this bill.
- What is the hidden agenda behind the need to push the school start date until after Labor Day?
- Do they have research that suggests this will be better for students’ academic outcomes?
- Is this bill geared towards the many conversations regarding increasing the starting wages for teachers?
- Have they had conversations with school leaders, teachers, and parents and received overwhelming support?
- Is this a priority of Indiana’s new Secretary of Education?
There are many important education conversations the legislature could be having right now. Why is this one a priority early in the new session?
If you are interested in hearing the conversation about this bill. The hearing will take place on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.Click here to view the live stream beginning at 1:45 p.m.
What are your thoughts regarding this bill? There will be more updates coming after the hearing on Wednesday. Stay tuned!
This is an amazing idea! Our school starts August 2nd and it only gives the kiddos that partake in summer school 2 1/2 to 3 weeks of summer. Another major issue is children of divorced parents, the children go to the other parents home for 4-6 weeks leaving the children with only 1 week at normal everyday residence.