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Would a later school start date produce
additional state tax revenue and cost savings that could be used toward
funding public schools?
According to Chairman Grusendorf, post-Labor Day school start date would
save taxpayers more than $85 million in school district costs. Research
indicates that Texas’ early school-start dates also cost Texas over $392
million dollars annually in summer travel revenue -- the taxes on such
activity could be used to help fund public schools.
Where exactly are the potential
savings from a later school start date?
For local school districts, the savings
would be lower energy costs. Early school start dates require local
school districts to pay the high August cooling costs. It is twice as
expensive in Texas to cool schools in August than it is in May. For
example, the August 5 school start date implemented in Birdville ISD
cost that district $40,500 more annually in cooling costs than a
September 1 school start date. With this same concern, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Public Schools pushed back their schools start date from August 19 to
post-Labor Day. Tulsa administrators estimate the move saved the
district $500,000 in utility costs.
Wouldn't starting school later just
cause schools to end later and thus eliminate any savings?
Even if a school district simply moved
the August school days to May and June, districts would still enjoy a
significant utilities cost savings. A recent report estimates
electricity charges, per student, per day to be: $0.89 in August, $0.45
in May and $0.78 in June. For example, if the following school
district’s began instruction in September instead of on August 16, 2004,
the below amounts could have been saved in utility costs annually:
Houston ISD -- $418, 768; Dallas ISD -- $319,297; Arlington ISD --
$122,760; Brownsville ISD -- $92,562; Conroe ISD -- $79,992. The savings
would be even greater for school districts that combined a later school
start date with more efficient scheduling of teacher training days and
school holiday vacation days to coincided more closely with vacation
times available to Texas working parents.
What changes would schools typically
need to make in order to start post-Labor Day?
The only change a school district would
need to make with a post-Labor day start date would be to move the first
semester exams to after the winter break – if the district wanted to
keep an equal number of days of instruction in each semester.
Is there an academic detriment to a
post-Labor Day start date or giving first semester exams after the
winter break?
Research shows that the school calendar
configuration does not impact academic performance. In fact, a majority
of the top 10 academic states in the nation began school in late-August
or early-September and administered first semester finals after the
winter break this year. For example, top-rated Carroll ISD has approved
a 2005-06 school calendar with a start date of August 29 and will
administer first semester exams after the winter break. A School Start
Date Task Force, chaired by Dr. William Cunningham, Former Chancellor of
the UT Systems presented research supporting the academic benefits of
administering end-of-semester exams after the Winter Break. The research
found that long-term learning is enhanced by the “spacing effect” when
students can review and study material that they have been presented
after an instructional break.
Shouldn’t the school calendar be a
matter of local control?
The state would only be setting a
beginning date for schools. All other calendar decisions will be left to
the school board and community to decide. Local control should factor in
the desire of most Texas parents. A recent survey of over 42,000 Texans
showed the majority supported a school start date of post-Labor Day.
Do later school start dates present
problems with the administration of school athletic practices?
No. The University Interscholastic
League sets a schedule as to when athletic practices may begin. A
uniform school start date would put all Texas high school athletic teams
on the same footing as to the number of hours practiced before the first
game.
How would a later school start date
impact teacher training and time off during the school year?
Regardless of the start date for
school, teacher contracts would include 187 days that they commit to the
district. School districts will continue to have control as to teacher
work days, professional development and all school holidays.
Would there be exemptions for
schools that have year-round programs from the recommended post-Labor
school start date?
Current law “grandfathers” all schools
that were operating under a year-round school calendar when the law was
enacted. Even without the “grandfather” clause, school districts wishing
to operate under a year-round school calendar will be able to do so –
the only difference would be the starting date.
For More Information: Tina Bruno,
Executive Director
Texans for a Traditional School Year
(210) 559-5277 |
