Issues in the School Calendar Debate Operating Efficiency Opponents say:      Temperatures in June are often equal to those of August and pushing back the start date would result in the school year ending later in June. Save our Summers says: Tulsa Public Schools saved nearly $500,000 by delaying the start of school until after Labor Day, the districts latest utility bills show." Late opening of school saved money, Tulsa World News, November 17, 2002. "District officials say the delay (August 18 to September 2) will save the schools at least $150,000 in utility costs." City Schools to Delay Start of Classes, The Daily Oklahoman, January 16, 2003. In 2000, school districts' electricity bills were as much as $10 million a  year higher as a result of early start dates." Texas Comptroller of Public  Accounts, Special Report, An Economic Analysis of the Changing School  Start Date in Texas, December 2002.  A traditional school year would allow students to complete the second  semester in late May if only traditional holidays were observed -- actually  allowing for less days of low level cooling.             Local Control:  Opponents say: Local elected officials are better able to set school calendars that work for their district School Board members are elected by the people and should have the power to set the school calendar. Each county has vastly different needs and that one school-start date does not fit all.  Save our Summers says: The laws governing education in most states are extensive.  Providing uniformity in school start dates would in no way minimize the work of the school board or the school community.  Providing a uniform start date ensure an "equal playing field" for students taking the statewide standardized test.  Parents do not have sufficient input in setting the school calendar; as surveys in other states show the vast majority of parents support post-Labor Day school start dates. It is also important to remember the state pays the largest portion of the education tab and thus should ensure non-instructional costs are kept to a minimum. This will ensure the bulk of taxpayer dollars go towards educational programming, classroom supplies and teacher salaries. Federal guidelines require Adequate Yearly Progress Reports be provided to parents no later than the first day of school.     Fall Semester Exams Opponents say: A later school start date will preclude the first semester from being completed prior to the Winter Break and students do better if they are able to take exams before the long break. Save our Summers says: We have been unable to find research to support the assumption that students perform better academically if the first semester is complete prior to the winter break. To the contrary, evidence that supports the calendar configuration does not impact academic performance. But, the top 10 academic states, in four commonly used state education ranking systems, have two things in common. The majority began the school year in late August or early-September and administer semester finals after the winter break. Long-term learning is enhanced when students have an opportunity to review and study material that they have been presented over a semester in a thoughtful and timely manner. This is called the "spacing effect" and is well documented in psychology literature. Teacher’s Continuing Education Opponents say: Institutions of higher learning should modify their schedules to accommodate teachers’ needs. It is not the school systems responsibility to set a school calendar that works with the summer sessions offered by colleges and universities. Save our Summers says: College and University systems often pull teachers from many different districts,  wehn no uniform calendar is in place it is often difficult, if not impossible, to create a caldendar that allows teachers from all districts to maximize summer learning. It is difficult to create advanced learning opportunities for teachers when district calendars vary by weeks. Many of our dedicated teachers are currently not certified in the area in which they teach. Federal education law requires certification in areas of teaching for all by the year 2012. Teachers often receive increased pay as advanced degrees are received and we should maximize teachers ability to achieve advanced learning. Research shows that students taught by teachers who hold national certification score better on standardized tests. A Time to Learn report, Poor Timing - The Impact of Early-August School Start Dates in Florida showed that school districts with higher percentages of Master's Level teachers performed better on standardized testing than those with lower percentages.  Attendance Lag Opponents say: Attendance the first few days, or weeks, of school is low regardless of when the school year begins. Save our Summers says: Absentee rates dropped 60 percent after Texas enacted a uniform school start date law. School district officials attribute high absenteeism in August to the timing of family vacations, new families transferring into the district, and other factors.  A uniform school start date would eliminate the above-mentioned problems for many families -- thus increasing attendance the first day of school.              Student Employment Opponents say:  Student work is a matter of personal choice and the school calendar should not be structured around it. Save our Sumers says: The majority of students today don’t work for the "fun" of it. Many work to help with household expenses or to save for higher learning. The Employment Policies Institute found that students who worked during high school had higher paying jobs upon graduation. Teachers also report students with part-time jobs are more focused and more appreciative of their education than others. Equal Number of Days in the Semesters Opponents say: Early-August school start dates are necessary to allow the first semester to end prior to the winter break and ensure equal number of days in the semester. Unequal semesters are unfair for students taking single semester advanced placement tests. Classes would be more difficult for students taking the class during the shorter semester. Save our Summers says: * Most schools administer standardized tests during the spring semester, creating a need for unequal instructional days in the first and second semester. (Please note: While many contend unequal days in semesters should not create a problem, parents of students in Advanced Placement classes have filed lawsuits when their student was not first ranked in the class and the first ranked student had additional days to learn the material. School districts are sensitive to this.) Early-August School Start Dates Allow More Frequent and Much Needed Breaks During the School Year Opponents say: Teachers and students enjoy mini-breaks during the school year. Frequent small breaks keep them refreshed and prevent student and teacher burnout. More breaks during the school year and a shorter summer break are better for student achievement. Save our Summers says: Calendars with many breaks interrupt the flow of learning. There is no evidence year-round school calendars, as calendars with frequent breaks are called, are better for student achievement, as proponents of year round school calendars claim. Actually, a recent study by world renowned education researcher, Dr. Gene V. Glass, found: ". "These arguments often rely on data drawn from laboratory experiments where subjects memorize nonsense syllables or perform other non-meaningful tasks. The relevance of these studies to actual classroom practice is questionable." News articles report school districts around the country have dropped year round school calendars for two basic reasons – increased non-instructional cost and no increase in academic performance. Travel and Tourism Opponents say: School calendars should not be set around the needs of industry. The early school start date often provides families the opportunity to travel during less expensive and crowed times. Save our Summers says: We have been unable to find research that shows starting school early benefits long term learning. We have found research supporting the need for increased dollars earmarked for education and research touting the benefits of youth work experiences. Early-August school start dates are currently cutting up to three weeks from the August tourism season – meaning taxpayers are shouldering a heavier tax burden. School administrators and teachers are continually reminding elected officials of the need for more educational dollars. Taxpayers do not want to foot a larger bill. By pushing back the start of the school year we would be eliminating one of the most expensive cooling months of the school year and increasing tax revenue to the state. A synchronized September school start date would not only reduce non-instructional costs, but increase tax revenue available for legislators to increase public education funding. Non-tourism related business have difficulty scheduling summer vacations for employees with children during the short summer.