School Start Date

On Friday, December 12th Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck sent a letter to Iowa schools informing them that waivers to the school start date requirement would no longer automatically be granted. Effective immediately, individual waiver requests will only be granted if there is evidence of “a significant negative educational impact” by following the required start date. Director Buck additionally stated that clarification to the criteria to be used for granting a waiver will come from the Department of Education in January.

I support the concept of local decision-making and local control regarding the school start date. Local school boards, staff members and patrons are in the best position to determine the optimal start date for their communities. These decisions are made for educational reasons, while considering their communities’ and school district's needs and circumstances.

I believe that this is an important issue of local control. We should not be distracted from the more important issues facing our schools. 

I personally have always held to the belief that how we lay out the school calendar is one of the least impactful things we do in education.  Pedagogy, appropriate and timely resources, a guaranteed and viable curriculum all rank far above when we start and end our school year.

As a reminder, the current law states that schools can start their year no earlier than the Monday during the week that Sept 1st falls.  Schools have been allowed to apply for waivers which are to be board approved at a public hearing, which means that the public has an opportunity to weigh in on the subject prior to the board taking action.  

Also, keep in mind that (assuming my numbers are correct) currently there are only two school districts in the state that do not apply for the early start waiver. I think this speaks volumes.

If this is an important issue to you, either way. Please contact your state representaive, and/or state senator eith your opinions and input.  Since this has come down from the Governor's office, a note or email to Governor Brandstads office and Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck is recommended as well.