Click to return to the News Release Page

For Immediate Release
March 21, 2001

For More Information:
Tina Bruno @ 210-771-6878

Momentum Growing for Legislature
to Set Later School Start Date

AUSTIN – A grassroots group of parents today produced resolutions from over 15,000 Texans demonstrating support for a bill that would prevent public schools from beginning their academic year earlier than the week of August. 21.

The group, Texans for a Traditional School Year, delivered the petitions to legislators following an afternoon news conference on the steps of the state Capitol. 

"Texans across the state are fed up with the early August school start date," said Tina Bruno, executive director of the group. "While our supporters prefer a start date after September 1, we are happy the Legislature is considering a threshold for when school can start in the Lone Star State."

Under the proposal, sponsored by state Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, Texas public school districts would be required to begin their academic year during the week in which August 21 falls. School boards would retain the authority to set all holidays, semester divisions and the last day of school.

The measure, known as Senate Bill 108, passed the Senate Education Committee last week. It is now headed to the Senate floor.

“For years we have asked local school boards to allow and welcome input from parents when setting school calendars, but we have been ignored,” said Patsy Griner, a parent from San Marcos. “It is time for the state to get involved.”

Texans for a Traditional School Year’s goal has been to eliminate early school start dates, which interfere with postgraduate education for teachers, summer work for students and create unnecessary hardships on Texas families. 

Some public schools began their 2000-2001 academic year as early as Aug. 2.

Lucio has noted that as many as 250,000 students were absent the first week of school.  

Proponents of the measure also have said establishing later start dates will save school districts millions of dollars in electricity costs, increase attendance among the children of migrant workers and reduce the time needed for teachers to complete advanced degree programs in the summer months.

A December 2000 study from the Texas comptroller’s office pointed out that electricity bills in some school districts were as much as $10 million higher that year because of early school start dates. The same report noted that migrant families lose $27 million annually in potential earnings and that state loses $332 million in potential tourism spending because of early school start dates. 

Among the groups that support SB108 are the Texas State Teachers Association, the Weslaco Federation of Teachers, the Rio Grande Labor Council and the Greater Houston Partnership. 

Bruno noted that school boards would retain control over setting their holiday schedules, even though the Texas Association of School Boards has opposed the measure on the grounds that trustees wouldn’t have enough flexibility in setting school calendars.

“I think this is a good compromise bill because Texas parents get a later school start date and school boards still get to set their holiday schedules,” Bruno said.