why does the KCMO SD start so late?

[pstokely]

They start Aug 28, most districts in the area start the third week of August. I thought they'd be starting as early as they could to cram in MAP prep.

[loudestchick]

1. because many of the kcmo schools haven't had air conditioning?

It's only in the last few years that older buildings have been retrofitted. I don't know that this is the reason...but we go later than other schools as well. Additionally, there has been an ongoing issue of late enrollments due to the "movable" nature of many families in the district . It isn't unusual to have new/ unplaced student as much as 3 weeks into the school year...what a logistical nightmare.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. They have started the week before Labor Day ever since they changed the

law that used to require all schools in the state to wait till after Labor Day to start.

Lack of air conditioning is part of it. Also summer school is not over till Monday, July 31. They need to time to prepare the buildings for the start of school. And with the high temps forecast for next week and into August, why would anyone want kids in school then?

[xmas74]

3. I didn't know about the Labor Day law.

We're starting August 15th here.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. It was repealed

It was passed about 15 years ago and forbid districts to start school before Labor Day unless a certain percentage of the local economy was from agriculture. Within a few years, districts here in KC were claiming they met the agricultural rule and were starting school in August. Eventually, so many districts got the exemption that they did away with the law.

The law came about after lobbying from the tourism industry. But school districts lobbied hard against it. The tourism folks won. Isn't that sweet? Tourism is more important in MO than education.

[xmas74]

5. Well, it's been about 15 years since I've been out of school

and I lived in Saline Co., which could have easily made the agricultural claim. That's probably why I didn't know about it.

And we already knew that tourism was more important. Isn't MO one of the states that's suffering from "smart flight"?

[pstokely]

6. I think schools may be starting later in August next year

http://www.senate.mo.gov/06info/bts_web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=154227

Thank the tourism lobby and their need for an extra week and minimum wage workers

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Sorry but I think education should be a higher priority than tourism

I also am repulsed by the idea that the tourism industry can dictate to schools. How much money do they donate to their local school districts? Or volunteer hours? And if they have received tax abatements, that is the same as taking money away from education, since property taxes largely go to supporting public schools.

We need businesses in every community in every state to SUPPORT public education instead of giving these businesses tax breaks and allowing them to dictate the school calendar to districts. That is just so wrong on so many levels.

I also really have a problem with the following part of the bill you linked:

Each local board of education shall vote annually to accept the target date or to adopt an alternative start date while asserting the reason for varying from the target date. However, such reason shall not include additional preparation time for any academic assessment.

What's next? This is just absolutely ridiculous. We HAVE to force the kids to take the dumb tests, their scores HAVE TO reach a certain (rising) level every year, and now we can't schedule extra time to prep them for the tests?