COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – It will be an early start for many Branch County students this year and they are not alone.
The Coldwater, Bronson and Quincy school districts along with the Branch ISD and Pansophia Academy all got waivers from the Michigan Board of Education to start classes before Labor Day.
According to the Detroit News, over one in five school districts in the state have obtained waivers.
A total of 120 school districts out of the 540 in the state have obtained permission to start early which is the most since the passage of a state law nearly a decade ago which mandated classes not start until after Labor Day.
Attempts to reverse the mandate and let schools start when they want to have been beaten down by state tourism and business interests who like to have summer vacation extended as long as possible.
The Union City Community School District is not affected by the early start waiver. Students there will be going back after Labor Day as they have in the past. Union City belongs with the Calhoun ISD while the Branch County schools starting early are part of the Branch ISD.
