Texas DUers with kids. What do you think of the mandated starting date for school

[Ishoutandscream2]

You all probably know that the legislature mandated that all public schools start on the week of August 27. No more of the so called "local control" of districts determining their own calendars, at least when to start school.

It was really insane. Some districts would start in early August,and some would start some three weeks later. I tell you, as a school counselor dealing with move ins during the year, the mandated starting date is a god send. Kids won't be as far behind or ahead (as long as the former district is following the TEKS). I like the idea myself, but I feel like I'm in the minority.

How do ya'll feel?

[RB TexLa]

1. Only reason they have it is because Six Flags wants kids spending money with them instead

of learning. Give a few million to senators and reps and no school till the last week of Aug.

But hey, we have to protect Six Flags, right?


edited to add: I don't have kids but I'd rather they go on and get them in school. At least the Catholic schools here told Six Flags to shove it when they came to the diocese about moving their start date.

[Ishoutandscream2]

2. I agree. The tourist industry had a BIG say in thi$$$

But some districts in the past (like Plano) would start their school year at August 1. I always thought that was so insane. I do think as an educator that having the same starting date will benefit both kids and teachers.

[rainbow4321]

7. Plano tried to blackmail it's parents

into rebelling against the start date law back when it first was talked about.

We got letters and stuff about the district would be forced to give 1st semester final exams after winter break, meaning kids would have to study during their winter break....in a district where a good chunk of families are high income and either leave the state (or sometimes the country) on vacation for the entire break. Good luck telling those same affluent Plano families that their kids will be having to carry their books/backpacks with them while the family is vacationing across Europe or Asia!!

Ugh...the year Plano started August 1st. They had this yearly habit of doing early start dates and then three day weekends at least once a month..then the "fall break" for a week in October, Labor Day was turned into a four day weekend, as was Easter weekend (off Friday and Monday). I figured out at one point that if they trimmed some of those random, frequent days off, they could get 2 more weeks of class time even with the late start date.

I don't know if you remember when the middle of the night decision by TX lawmakers popped up in the morning headlines about the new start date law...it was kept off the public radar til after the fact (out of fear of districts complaining about losing local control, no doubt). One of the reasons given was the new late date would allow migrant families to get back into their Texas districts..too many of their kids were missing a week or more of school cuz they didn't get back from Mexico soon enough.
Less kids in school = less school funding since attendence is tied to how much state money each district gets.

But then immigrations issue became a huge national deal and Texas lawmakers dropped that reason and then started saying increasing tourism
was their goal (more $$ in the tourism industry, better economy, kids earning more $$ since they get to work in August, etc...")
Goodness knows how much $$$$ Texas lawmakers got from tourism lobbyists...which is most likely the real reason for the new law!!

[tammywammy]

8. Strayhorn was also saying how it would save on the A/C bill

It's not as hot in the beginning of June as compared to the end of August. I dunno, that seemed to make sense to me. :shrug:

Oh and I do realize that the tourism industry put in quite a bit of $$$ to get this set. But I still think it's a good thing. Hey, they don't do much right down here, but this seems okay to me. :)

[AnneD]

11. It is the truth....

Many of our LEGAL Hispanic parents take the kids for the summer to Mexico (so do the illegals, but that is another story). Schools in Mexico start after Labor Day. The poor Hispanic kids would be behind and for some kids-it was so hard to catch up.

You might be to young to remember-but I have lived most of my life in Texas. Schools started after the Labor Day holiday when I was a sprout. How can I remember that? My birthday generally falls either on Labor Day or on Labor Day weekend. Until recently, this was the last big holiday til Thanksgiving. So really-we just went back to the way it was. Personally, I don't mind that the recreation business was an allie. They are nicer than the insurance or gun lobby. What's so bad about having a large chunk of free time. When I went into the corporate world-the one thing I missed the most were summers off. That is a perk that keeps me in despite the pay.
And working now in the education arena-kids and teachers need a breather. It is very intense anymore what with tests (that is another thing they are trying to cut back on) and all. We cram over a years work in 9 months and we just need time to recharge our batteries. Kids are over scheduled as it is. They need that break.

[AnneD]

3. I love it...

There is no point (esp considering the cost) of starting early. This schedule keeps the district generated in service crap-ola down to a minimum. So many kids go to Mexico for the summer to visit family and they don't come back til after Labour Day so this helps them and us.

We were experiencing serious calendar creep. My 2.5 month off was becoming 2 mos and less. I love kids but I need a break from the BS.

[tammywammy]

5. It seems like the school calendars around here

Were getting to where every other week had a three day weekend. Seemed like it was getting pretty ridiculous to me.

[Ishoutandscream2]

6. "in service crapola to a minimum." AMEN!!

[cloudbase]

4. I know that Schlitterbahn gave

tons of money to the anti year-round education board candidates in the Cypress-Fairbanks district.

[AnneD]

9. I lived in the CyFair district....

and Schlitterbahn could have kept their money-most folks hated the year round schedule.

Different schools had different 'off' times. You would no sooner get your young one off his '2 week holiday' when your middle school kid would start his 'holiday'. I know of one family that also had the oldest in high school and the had the traditional time off. This family rarely ever got to spend off time together-all 3 kids had different schedules. What a planning nightmare.

It was hard to schedule family reunions, gatherings, or visits. You would be off at an odd time and things would be closed. You were off but you friends weren't.

It really didn't save money. The building were doing double duty and experiencing double wear and tear.

Now, I am a product of Cy Fair and I am very proud of that-it is a fantastic district; but this noble experiment had run it's course and the idea was finally put to rest.

[SoCalDem]

10. When I was a kid, we started the week before Labor Day

and ended the week before Memorial day.

Back then Memorial day was the actual day (may 30) and was called Decoration Day..

[Avalux]

12. I'm happy with it. A few years ago my kids started on Aug. 13.

I still wish they wouldn't start until after Labor Day tho - as I did when I was a kid in PA.

[napi21]

13. They have those random start dates here in Ga. and I don't know

ANY parents who think it's a good idea! My grandchildren started school Aug. 5th this year. It's been 100+ every damn day ever since, and although the schools are air conditioned, the busses are NOT!

I lived in San Antonio for 6 years, and 100+ in Aug is pretty normal too. What the heck ever happened to "the day after Labor Day"?

As for tests having to be given right after a break? That's BS.