How come Fauquier County Schools Start in August? (Reston, Warrenton: public schools, DMV)

[michgc]

I thought I read on a thread on C-D that Virginia public schools had to start AFTER Labor Day something like the "Kings Dominion Law." Yet my husband's co-worker said that Warrenton's schools were starting tomorrow (August 23). I looked it up, and she's right. So how come they are allowed to start before Labor Day? Anyone know?

http://www.fcps1.org/education/page/download.php?fileinfo=MjAxMC0yMDExX0FwcHJvdmVkLnBk Zjo6Oi93d3cvc2Nob29scy9zYy9yZW1vdGUvaW1hZ2VzL2RvY2 1nci8zMzYwX2ZpbGVfMjMzNjlfbW9kXzEyODE0NzY4ODMucGRm (broken link)

[CAVA1990]

This practice in recent years of starting schools early I've always found somewhat obnoxious. I much preferred when I was a kid, many many years ago when school started toward the end of September (granted that was in CA so this Labor Day deal may be an East Coast thing). It really should start in the Fall and end in the beginning of Summer. That's why it was traditionally called "summer vacation".

[cdmurphy]

School systems can ask for a waiver. Usually they are related to bad weather in the previous year that made them run out of snow days. Here's what Fauquier County Public Schools had to say on the subject: News release - FCPS Calendar Approved for SY 2010-2011

Here's the Virginia DOE's page: Pre-Labor Day Opening Waiver Request

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

This practice in recent years of starting schools early I've always found somewhat obnoxious. I much preferred when I was a kid, many many years ago when school started toward the end of September (granted that was in CA so this Labor Day deal may be an East Coast thing). It really should start in the Fall and end in the beginning of Summer. That's why it was traditionally called "summer vacation".

I have had kids in school for the last 18 yrs and they have always started in Aug. We lived in both TX and NM, I also have friends who live in AZ and TN and school started there either last week or will begin tomorrow. I don't really think the practice of starting schools early is anything new, except maybe in VA.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

I have had kids in school for the last 18 yrs and they have always started in Aug. We lived in both TX and NM, I also have friends who live in AZ and TN and school started there either last week or will begin tomorrow. I don't really think the practice of starting schools early is anything new, except maybe in VA.

Double that number of years and go backwards and that's when I'm talking about. My kids have been in school here longer than 18 years. We're talkin' the age of dinosaurs.

[camrynh]

Huh. Spotsylvania starts Aug 24, and started around the same time last year.

[SteelCityRising]

I always went back to school in August back in Pennsylvania. Maybe Virginia is finally "catching up with the times?"

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

I always went back to school in August back in Pennsylvania. Maybe Virginia is finally "catching up with the times?"

Well, Kentucky can say they beat Virginia to the party. Ft. Knox schools began August 2nd and Louisville started last week.

I do support year-round schools.

[CAVA1990]

Perhaps it changed with the advent of air conditioning. We generally didn't have any back then in CA.

[tgbwc]

The district I grew up in in Ohio started, and still starts after Labor Day.

As far as VA schools go, I'm not sure why some schools are allowed to start before Labor Day and some aren't. A lot of districts across the state begin before Labor Day year after year. For example, Madison County started Aug. 18. Bedford County Aug. 23. I know there are a lot more. Those are just two I checked quickly.