Do schools start too early?

Summertime is coming to an end, but for many schools, it has already ended. The controversy surrounding school start dates has generated a slew of legislation in recent years: State law in Wisconsin mandates that schools start September 1 or later (with exceptions made in special circumstances), and Florida’s House Bill 7087 requires schools to start no earlier than two weeks before Labor Day.

In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, however, similar legislation was voted down, and schools are starting earlier as a result. Though much late-start date legislation stems from community and economic interests, some people argue that schools have the incentive to start later, too, based on high summertime energy bills and the potential of low attendance in the summer months. Tell us what you think.