Say No to Mandatory School Start Date
Save Local Choices…Save Local Voices…
Alabama Association of School Boards
- Local control of school calendars faces a battle each year in Montgomery. The tourism industry lobbies heavy support for bills that would force local school systems to push back the school start date and compromise their school calendars.
- AASB unequivocally opposes proposed legislative mandates: school calendars are local decisions which make students the highest priority. Local school boards believe discussion about a “more acceptable date” for a mandatory school start date window is simply not appropriate because legislation on this issue is neither necessary nor proper. The state Department of Education confirmed that school boards voluntarily comply with the departments’ request date to put requirements of the No Child Left Behind law in place.
- Lawmakers continue to receive heavy pressure from business interests. However, the legislation has not passed because lawmakers learned their local school calendars would not fit within the school start date parameters. Do your schools have a fall break? Do your schools have a block schedule? Do your students take exams before Christmas Break? With the proposals, your calendar is compromised.
- Local school boards’ message is “preserve local decision-making.” In Montgomery, discussion is about decisions that take place in over 130 school systems about student achievement, holiday preferences, conflicts with community events, programmatic partnerships with local colleges and universities and work days for educators to meet with parents.
- This legitimate debate takes place where it belongs: locally. The public charges the school board to make those decisions and holds them responsible and accountable for student achievement.
- There is no national movement for states to have a start date. Of the 14 states that have a start date, two are trying to repeal them, and two other states allow waivers.
DID YOU KNOW
According to National Weather Service data, it is generally only 3-4 degrees cooler on average on Sept. 4 as opposed to Aug. 4. Here are some average high temperatures by city by date:
- Huntsville: May 4th..77 degrees….June 4th: 84 degrees…….Aug 4th: 90 degrees….Sep 4th:…86 degrees
- Birmingham: May 4th…78 degrees…June 4th: 85 degrees…Aug 4th: 91 degrees…Sep 4th: 88 degrees
- Montgomery: May 4th…82 degrees…June 4th…89 degrees…Aug 4th…93 degrees…Sep 4th…90 degrees
IN THE NEWS
“Let local school systems set their own schedules”
The Birmingham News, April 12, 2008 editorial
“Leave it to local systems”
Press Register, April 14, 2008 editorial
“Calendar is a job for school boards”
Tuscaloosa News, April 13, 2008 editorial
Contact your legislators and secure a commitment to OPPOSE a "one-size fits all" school calendar that is neither warranted nor welcome by your local community.
THE ISSUE
Download AASB's Uniform Calendar Kit
Mandatory Start Date Unfriendly to Public Education
Say No to Mandatory School Start Date
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