LANSING, MI (WTVB) – Would an earlier start to the school year before Labor Day hurt tourism in Branch County and elsewhere in Michigan? We may get a chance to find out. The State House Education Committee is considering legislation that would allow local school boards in Michigan to determine when their own classes should begin each year. A similar measure died in Lansing in 2013.
The proposed change is given a better chance of passage right now since school this year will start after September 7th, six days later than last year. The bill, if approved, would lock in a 4-day holiday weekend with students getting Friday before the holiday off.
The state law that mandated all Michigan public schools start after Labor Day, unless they get a waiver to start earlier, went into effect with the 2006-2007 school year.
