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Thursday, February 3, 2005
What About Summer?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What do you all think about the Legislature jumping in to require schools start between Aug. 29 and Sept. 7, a couple of weeks later than most systems currently bring the kids back from summer vacation?
School board members say they will fight the bill, and Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox has said she opposes a universal start date for public schools.
I know from writing about this issue that lots of parents passionately want traditional summers back. They think start dates around Aug. 9 are just too early.
School officials say they have tweaked the calendar over the years for the good of students, especially those who need remedial help. Some cite the tendency of weak students to regress over the summer. Others praise the shorter breaks in the fall and the spring that the new calendar often allows, saying it gives kids who are behind a chance to attend special programs and catch up. The most common reason given for the earlier start date is so high school students can take their final exams before the winter break. Then, when they return from the holidays, they start their spring semester. Before, high school students took final exams after the holidays. Again, officials say, weaker students may regress over the break.
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