Missouri Lawmakers Set Later Start Date For Schools

Back to school will be a little later in Missouri next year if lawmakers get their way.

The Missouri General Assembly passed a law pushing school start dates back about a week over the opposition of school administrators. It’s part of an effort to encourage families to fit one more weekend of trips to amusement parks and lakeside cabins around the state.

Tourism and business advocates say it will increase revenue to an important part of the state’s economy.

Schools currently can start no sooner than 10 days before the first Monday in September. The bill, if it’s signed by Gov. Mike Parson, would change that to 14 days. The previous law, however, had a commonly used exemption allowing school districts to set an earlier first day of the school if they hold a public hearing. The new law eliminates that exemption.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-lawmakers-set-later-start-date-schools