Summer May End Sooner for Kids Next Year

While students in Hillsborough County almost assuredly have to resign themselves to an earlier school start date next year, kids in Manatee may be looking at the same.

A proposal to change the school start date in Manatee to Aug. 10 for the next two years met with tentative approval Tuesday. The action is not yet set in stone, the Bradenton Herald reported, but the hope is to finalize the calendars before the end of the year.

Should the move be approved in Manatee, school would end in May instead of June.

In Hillsborough, school board members have tentatively approved a 2016-17 calendar that has a first day of classes on Aug. 10. Under the new calendar, the last day of school would be May 26, 2017.

Other nearby counties, including Pasco, are also considering earlier start dates after legislative changes paved the way to adjust calendars. Pasco’s proposal calls for an Aug. 15 start date in 2016. The calendar has not yet been approved there, but officials say the date would enable middle and high school kids to complete first-semester exams before heading off for winter break.

Manatee County parents interested in providing input on the calendar can email calendar@manateeschools.net.

What are your thoughts on an earlier start date? Share them by commenting below.

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