5 Reasons Why Starting School in August Is Complicated

By Adrianne Murchison

Kids in Stone Mountain and Lithonia head back to school on August 12. It was no doubt an adjustment for some parents who grew up accustomed to the start of school after Labor Day.

Below are reasons why the early start of school can be complicated including comments from readers on a sister-site before the start of school last year. Tell us in the comments below how you feel about the early start of school.
 

• “In late August days the weather is better and the hotels, airfare and crowds are less and you just have time to relax. You get the important time to relax as a family. If school starts before Labor Day it stops families time together and life begins as we knew it -rush here and there.”

• Can children actually focus during the dog days of August? 

• "Proponents say the August start dates allow more instruction time before students take mandatory state achievement tests and Advanced Placement and college-entrance exams." – The Wall Street Journal.

• "What I have come to conclude after years of teaching and administrating in schools is that having school start before Labor Day makes better educational sense. Most students look forward to the start of school (no matter what the date). They are ready to learn and teachers are prepared to teach them. Many teachers take courses and workshops over the summer and are eager to implement new strategies in the classroom to support the learning needs of all students."

• An earlier start date can interfere with children’s league sports tournaments or other end of summer events that require travel out of town.