The 2015-2016 school year could begin as early as August 10. That means families could have to cut vacations short. State law prohibits schools from starting earlier than Labor Day, but the holiday falls in the second week of September, making districts antsy.
School districts prefer to end their first semesters before the winter break. And the late Labor Day leaves far less time to teachers and schools to get their work done in time. Lawmakers have a solution: move the start date up. But Aventura Democrat Joe Geller says August 10th is way too early:
“I know we have concerns about tests before Winter Break, but really, the 1oth?”
But House Education committee chairwoman Marlene O’Toole says districts requested the option”
‘They have the flexibility based on their needs and their students," she said. " If parents are unhappy they have their local school boards to meet with. This is a local decision. That’s what they asked for, and that’s what we’ve granted.”
Similar concerns arose in the Senate with tourism-based industries expressing concerns about the move.
