I'm originally from Indiana, school started around 18 Aug and we got out around May 20th every year. (earlier if senior year or skipping days to go out to the Indy 500 qualifications)

Here in California its Sept 18th and out June 24th or about those days (We have 3 wks for Xmas break and all exams are before or after that

Hey JHB,
We started school August 23rd (my son's birthday!) and the munkins are out this coming Friday, May 27th. That is after a snow day was added as they were to be dismissed on the 26th. I want to say we go for more than 180 days but it might just seem like that!

As a charter school we are able to start so early as the rest of the District doesn't begin for another week or two and they do not get out until June 3 or the week after.

Now I remember when I was in school back in Iowa the State Fair dates were moved to mid-August to make sure the 4-H kids wouldn't miss so much school...hey you other Iowans, is my memory right? I just remember my cousins with livestock really having a hard time as they would miss the first two weeks of school every year. I have also heard the about starting school later since it is just so hot and many schools were without air conditioning. I laugh and ask what about the snow! As far as finals, my first and second graders aren't subjected to such tourcher yet and my oldest (8th grade) was assigned projects over both Winter and Spring Break. Anyway, I like our starting date, okay I'm biased too as I have always started school in August.

Texas is considering legislation that will move the start date of school to after Labor Day and have it end by June 7th. Currently, I think the first possible day is August 18th, but schools can get a waiver. More than 50% do and start about a week earlier than that. And there must be at least 180 school days. Most schools end the 3rd or 4th week of May. (May 25 for us this year.)

Primarily it's the tourism industry lobbying for the change. But there are also claims that shifting the year by 2-3 weeks will save millions in utility costs. (Sorry, but I don't believe that.)

My big problem with this idea is that it makes it virtually impossible to end the semester at winter break. Instead the kids will go home for a couple of weeks, then come back and a week or two later face mid-terms. It also puts mid-year graduates out of sync with the college semesters.

I know some of you have schedules like this. (In fact, I did when I was a kid. Coming back from Christmas break to face exams was the pits!)

What do you think? What are your schedules? (Start date, end date, # of days) I'd appreciate a discussion on this.

[ 05-20-2005, 09:04 PM: Message edited by: JHB ]