c	School Calendar Debates: Early August Start Dates Issues in the School Calendar Debate Operating Efficiency "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. Opponents response: Temperatures in June are often equal to those of August and September. Pushing back the school start date would result in the school year ending later in June. Attendance Lag Attendance is often poor in early-August as compared with school district figures the first week of September. A Texas study found that over 250,000 students were not in class the first day of school, as compared to September 1. 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. Opponents response: Many students are likely to miss the first few days of school no matter when the scholastic year begins. Student Employment A study by the Employment Policies Institute, May 1994, found that students who work during the summer are more likely to obtain better jobs upon graduation. A full summer of employment gives students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom and gain valuable insight in choosing a career path. Summer employment allows many students to afford college without working as many as many hours during the school year -- thus giving them more time for both academic studies and extracurricular activities. Opponents response: Student's decision to work during the summer is often a matter of personal choice. Teacher's Continuing Education Teachers are expected to remain competitive and to continue updating their skills; the shortened summer inhibits professional development. A shorter summer for teachers means teachers can only attend one of the two summer school sessions, so it often takes twice as long to earn advanced degrees. Many school districts offer greater pay for teachers with advanced degrees; if advanced degrees are beneficial enough to merit pay increases, shouldn't we ensure teachers have time to achieve advanced degrees? 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. College and University systems often pull teachers from many different districts, when no uniform calendar is in place it is often difficult, if not impossible, to create a calendar that allows teachers from all districts to maximize summer learning. Opponents response: It is unfair to expect public schools to change their start dates to encourage teachers to continue their education. Higher education institutions should modify their schedules to conform to public school schedules. Child Care The early-August school start date creates numerous breaks during the school year -- forcing parents to find child care at non-traditional times. These small breaks often force parents to pay higher prices for care than during the summer months. Communities often support educational learning opportunities during the summer months -- not during a day off twice a month. A one-day holiday often encourages students who would not be left unsupervised during the summer to be left "home alone". Opponents response: School districts are not responsible for child care. Fall Semester Exams When semester exams are administered in no way impacts academic performance. The week prior to the Winter Break is often the most hectic for high school students. By placing end-of-semester exams during this time we often force students to choose between participating in community activities and studying for exams. Teachers report student concentration is the lowest the days before a long holiday and energy levels are the highest. If the goal of education is retention, wouldn't it be better to allow students to return refreshed and ready to "hit the books"? If students are not able to retain information for two weeks, they never committed the material to memory in the first place. Opponents response: Teachers' would have to review material with students prior to the administration of exams because children would forget the information during the break. Local Autonomy 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. The district would still be responsible for setting yearly divisions, semesters or trimesters, assigning holidays and teacher workdays. Opponents response: While some school boards and superintendents do not support measures that reduce local control, many, such as the Alabama Association of School Administrators, are looking at a uniform school start date to provide an "equal playing field" for students taking the statewide standardized test.