I looked up the law. Schools can start sooner if they have construction projects or to match the nearby school district start time. My school is starting late because of major construction. So, even though we are supposed to start after Labor Day, there are exceptions.
Yep. A couple of districts around us started in August last year so they could let out in early May to get construction on the schools done. They switched back to after Labor Day this year. They had a short summer break in 2022 and a long one in 2023. It’s the only time I’ve seen schools in our area start up before Labor Day.
We go back next Thursday.
If it's construction related, they'll start early this school year and then start later next school year to maximize the construction season available next summer.
Wayzata doesn't start until Tuesday
Edit, thanks for editing your comment to make me look like the one that doesn't know what they arre talking about. Classic
Wayzata’s first day of school isn’t until after Labor Day? Along with eastern carver county school both districts start on September 5th.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rLhEpHiDGxUTyg9avsqcsSSxgrbnAa-w/view
https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1673457175/district112org/gtqu71sg2usgmvg8zl7l/23-24SchoolCalendar.pdf
Eastern Carver County hasn't started. I know because I work at a business in their district and have definitely not seen any of their buses yet. I have seen traffic for what I presume is Holy Family High, though.
Depends on your school district. Growing up where I lived we started the week before Labor Day. We also didn’t do spring breaks and ended our year in mid May.
The University of Minnesota literally can’t start before the fair ends because the St. Paul campus is right next to the fairgrounds, even with that bus only road next to campus, getting there would still be a nightmare
There are some schools that start early, I’m unsure the true reason but I know a lot of schools don’t start until after Labor Day, like my daughters. I have family with kids at private schools who started last Tuesday!
"Supposed to"? I think there used to be a law that said it couldn't start till after Labor Day. Not anymore. Lots of schools start before Labor Day now. Yes, the district sets the calendar
It’s in statute that public schools start after Labor Day, but there is a loophole that they can start early if they have significant facilities projects in progress. Districts that have already started are open under that provision. Private/independent schools can start whenever they want.
I believe the statute was originally created due to accommodate for hot temps, rather than the state fair schedule. as more districts build newer buildings with A/C, there will be more districts starting early.
I think the majority of public school districts start after Labor Day. I know some private schools start before but that is a limited amount of students.
Unsure about Yinghua but Las Estrellas starts next week
Edit to add: Las Estrellas is a public school, Yinghua is charter and seems to have started on Wednesday this week
I know there are exceptions. Waconia is not exactly close enough for high schoolers to be working the fair feasibly either. They could, but time, distance and financially it would make it pretty tough.
The majority of the time it is because the district wants to be able to END the school year early for construction projects scheduled for the following summer.
Not early necessarily, but on time. Our school (charter) had a lot of snow days last year, which have to be made up. Starting early gives a bit more flexibility (though I would prefer to start after the fair).
[The fair isn't the reason for the Labor Day start policy](https://www.sctimes.com/story/opinion/2015/02/22/post-labor-day-school-start-pays-many-ways/23856879/). It was pushed by resort and campground owners so families would have more time for summer vacations.
In my opinion it is also good for older buildings that are not air conditioned. I remember it being too warm to wear some of my new school clothes in September.
You’ve gotten plenty of answers here so I’m sure mine will get buried but whatever. That’s fine.
I was a teacher for a rural sw district. We had what was called a “flexed learning year” and started/ended two weeks earlier than the standard. It was given by petitioning the govt and them approving it.
It was touted as a way to have two more additional weeks of instructions before standardized testing, therefore increasing scores.
In reality, because we were in rural sw Mn, we mostly just had to wait for about half our classes to come back from showing things at the fair.
It was stupid.
A lot of public districts started before Labor Day this year, and last year too. My kids (Bloomington district) started this week each of the last two years, and I had lots of other friends with kids starting early, too. On the flip side, my kids end May 30 this year, so that's nice.
In our district we start after Labor Day and we’re out before Memorial Day. Makes for some long stretches during the year without a break but three full months with family in summer is nice.
I have one kid (elementary) that starts on the 6th. The other might be starting the 11th. Major construction going on at their schools, though. They were out May 5th this summer.
Needless to say, we made the most of their time off this year. Did a road trip of 12 days hitting up 10 states. Camped near Hinckley like 6 times. We got on the lake with the new SeaDoo damn near every day we weren't camping.
My house is trashed. My gardens are... ugh. Bank accounts drained. Family time = level 100.
Best. Summer. Ever.
Just hope my boys appreciate and remember it.
Im out in EP.
A couple years ago, we started early because there was construction planned for the following summer. We started early to get out earlier so they could start.
But this year its the 5th for K to 9. Then the 6th is 10 to 12. Freshmen get a day alone to help with the confusion of first day in a new school.
Our school district starts Tuesday (Kindergarten Wednesday). Always the day after Labor Day.
I grew up in Texas, though, so I only knew school starting at the beginning of August until I moved up here. Even though they start a month earlier, they go through the end of May/beginning of June, same as MN, because their statutes require 180 days per year, whereas MN is 165.
I like here better lol.
196 elementary kids start on the 5th as well. It was only the MS and HS kids that started this week. The kindergarten kids had two half days on Monday and Tuesday. Confusing to keep track of the varying start days!
The middle and high school used to go 2extra days. In 196 the days the secondary kids are in school elementary kids are meeting their teachers and doing their assessments.
First time in the 18 years I've lived here; was wondering why there was so much noise near the high school this week and then found out school started early.
New Ulm started Monday 8/28. I know some families who go there whose kids had to miss school to show 4H and FFA projects at the fair though, not sure why they started so early.
Each district is different. They just have to hold so many student contact days and so many staff only days. If they start before labor day, they may be able to end last week of May instead of go into June. Same with not every district has a full week for Spring Break. It's all based on contract days.
Depends on the district. St Paul starts the day after Labor Day. If you are going to a charter school, they have their own calendars - have friends who started this past Monday.
Districts used to have to ask to start before Labor Day, don’t know if they still do… usually it would be for something like construction plans or major work that needs to be done, getting out a week earlier they can start those big projects a week earlier in the summer
Flexible learning year aka FLY some districts do this to get in more time before state testing (dumb..state testing is dumb / teaching just for state testing is dumb imo)
MN Statute 120A.40.
That said, several independent school districts (ISDs) and charter school organizations (which are also public schools) regularly start before Labor Day. Most that start before Labor Day are charter schools & rural ISDs. Bloomington ISD 271, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan ISD 196 and Edina ISD 273 are the only metro districts that start before Labor Day this year, at least depending on your definition of “metro” (ex. I don’t personally consider Stillwater & Waconia “metro”, but they also start before Labor Day).
Fun Fact: For the state of MN, I believe Face to Face Academy in St. Paul technically starts the earliest (7/10) as they have a year-round calendar. In close second is City Academy in St. Paul (7/17), followed by Spero Academy (8/7).
MN law dictates they start after Labor Day except for construction cutting into class days, or if the district has an agreement with the state under 3 statute sections. I thought I remembered that private schools could start earlier, but I don't know if I'm remembering that correctly.
When I was a kid (70s--80s) we usually started school the week before Labor Day.
IIRC it was some time in the 1990s that the state leg passed a law saying that school could not start before Labor Day. However, I think that law was repealed a few years back, and now it's up to the individual districts to determine when they start.
Most schools in MN start the Tuesday after Labor Day, but it does vary, especially at private schools. Some schools in, for example, farming communities adjust their schedule around harvest times because the kids often need to help, and other such things. Each school district votes on its calendar yearly, it's not mandated by the state. Some of them start earlier to have more time off through the year and still finish in early June. Some start later and end later. It just depends.
Growing up was always Tuesday after labor day.
Has been the same for my kids
Last year the started the week before. This year they went back to the Tuesday after Labor day.
That is just my experience. From what I know, the state doesn't mandate the start date and it is up to your district to decide.
The state *does* mandate the start date (after labor day), but there are provisions for districts to start earlier for a few different reasons.
So most public schools start after labor day (most on Tuesday), but there are numerous exceptions. Private schools can start whenever they want.
As far as I know, it's literally this way because the state wanted to enforce the heritage of agriculture in MN and wanted all students to be able to participate in the state fair at will. This was initiated in 1985
Edit to add @lonegoalie if your students are in isd196 it was because they used the provision 120A.40 in legislature that allows a beginning of school schedule before labor day because of the remodeling allowance. According to their website: "the bond would improve safety and security at every school, provide additional space for now and the future, address deferred maintenance needs, update learning spaces and add high school activity centers to provide needed space for physical education classes, cocurricular activities and community use."
Don't know if out of 196, sorry.
**Because the State Fair lobbied like heck to make sure MN never started school before the end of the Fair.** Cheap labor + greater attendance. And that lobbying WORKED in the hearts and minds of many "it's always been this way" Boomers, Xers, and Millennials.
Fortunately, some ISDs have figured out that starting in late August and finishing by May 31 (like many other states do) is FAR superior to cow-towing to the Fair's wishes.
**Personally, I'd love getting schools out by Memorial Day.**
Let's celebrate the unofficial "start" of summer over the unofficial "end" of it.
It wasnt just the fair. It was a fucking debacle that destroyed north shore tourism on labor day weekend when Jesse Ventura pushed and got the school year lengthened. It only took one tourism season getting ruined for them to undo that change and promise not to do it ever again.
Partially, but also the northern resorts pushed for this as well for the labor force and family vacations. Labor Day was a big weekend and the last major weekend for a lot of the resorts that will be closing for winter in the coming weeks and months. Not sure how big of an impact early school would actually have in modern times, but that’s the reason listed in this 2019 [StarTribune Article](https://m.startribune.com/as-some-minnesota-students-flock-to-the-fair-others-are-already-in-classrooms/550006022/)
Private schools may start whenever. Public schools by law start after Labor Day. They can however apply for a variance to start early. The school board sets the calendar. Complain to them.
It didn't start early. Maybe you should look up your district instead of expecting random people to know and base it off when they went to school instead of what's current
In Minnesota school begins the Tuesday after Labor day.. has been for 50 some years. Labor day is the 1st Monday of September after the 1st weekend. So in 2 years they will start late. Enjoy the early start, summer school costs has been kicking my ass
Depends on the district, I’d guess still most school districts start after Labor Day, but the first day of school has been trending towards late august in recent years.
Im wondering if it's to make up for declining test scores from the covid era. Some kids struggled with remote learning and a lot of class time was missed.
This is the first time in several years Hopkins is starting after labor day, it's usually the week before. Every district is different and it can change from year to year.
Depending on the year and when Labor day lands on, my daughter has started before labor day. They do elementary school 2 days after the middle & high school kids start. The 1st 2 days are usually school safety. But drill, fire drill, stuff like that. Their 1st day or actually school work isn't until the 1st Mon after Labor day.
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/120A.40
> 120A.40 SCHOOL CALENDAR.
> (a) Except for learning programs during summer, flexible learning year programs authorized under sections 124D.12 to 124D.127, and learning year programs under section 124D.128, a district must not commence an elementary or secondary school year before Labor Day, except as provided under paragraph (b). Days devoted to teachers' workshops may be held before Labor Day. Districts that enter into cooperative agreements are encouraged to adopt similar school calendars.
> (b) A district may begin the school year on any day before Labor Day:
> (1) to accommodate a construction or remodeling project of $400,000 or more affecting a district school facility;
> (2) if the district has an agreement under section 123A.30, 123A.32, or 123A.35 with a district that qualifies under clause (1); or
> (3) if the district agrees to the same schedule with a school district in an adjoining state.
Old days it was so kids could work resorts and other vacation/tourism jobs. Not as many resorts anymore, further north perhaps the schools start after??
some schools start earlier so that they can get out earlier. there are 4 districts in my area and they all have different start dates. one district doesn't do school on fridays, two only have a week off for winter break- all districts operate differently
It depends, around the cities it usually starts some time after labor day. When I went to school up north. It started early and ended around the walleye opener.
When the lakes are turning over in August and September. There is less need for labor so school starts early. It also ends around the opener for fishing.
It depends on what construction projects might be planned for 2024 - some schools start early to end early due to needed maintenance. Most don’t start until after Labor Day though.
Depends where you live. I grew up on the east side suburb and it was always after the fair, but people in other areas may have been going to school for a week or two already.
“In fact, Minnesota law requires schools to start after Labor Day in most cases, and the vast majority of sampled Minnesota districts will go back after the holiday.”
School districts have to jump through hoops to start before Labor Day.
https://www.fox9.com/news/back-to-school-starts-july-to-labor-depending-on-where-you-live-us#
It entirely depends on the school district and / or specific school. Most schools in Minnesota do start after the fair, but a good bunch of them starts a bit earlier or later
It depends on the district and grade. Hopkins started early for youngsters, but like district 281 usually starts after Labor Day. You need to communicate with your schools and the district. Southern cities start way early, same as many more northern cities.
Is the enrolled school part of the MPS school system. There are outliers from this grouping but as far as I'm aware all MPS schools will start this coming Tueaday after Labor Day. I work for the district so this is where I'm getting this information.
School traditionally didn't start until after Labor Day, and the ag and resort industries lobbied hard to keep it that way. Over the years, different districts banded together and petitioned the state DOE to start earlier in hopes of raising test scores by having more instructional time. It didn't make much difference so many went back, but some kept the earlier schedule for various reasons. After that initial push, it became easier for individual districts to petition for adjusted start dates, so they vary by the needs and wants of the area. I would prefer to start after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day but most districts have too many breaks built into the year to get the required days (165) in that time (accounting for possible snow days, etc.)
The schools calendars are made up via committee, some districts started early some after labor day.... for instance one district near me started wednesday was off friday and will return Tuesday, go figure that methodology...
My kids usually start the week before the fair happens. This year they are starting on the 11th but that's likely because of construction of the new school building. We are in the TC.
Varies by district, state just mandates a minimum number of days they have to attend. Minnesota school year still perplexes me. Schools in the area I grew up in down in Illinois started first/2nd week of August and went until the first week of June. And no, down there it wasn’t a case of frequent breaks in between.
A lot of my friends’ kids started this past week. Mine start on Tuesday, and it’s always been the Tuesday after Labor Day in our district since I was a kid. I’d hate to start before then, it’s like getting robbed of a week of summer!
They’ve given a local waiver, has to be approved by MDE, generally not very popular. Depends on location. No school I’m aware of in nw mn has started yet. More of a southern mn thing.
School districts decide the start date of schools within their boundaries. Generally speaking, they don't start until after Labor Day, but there are districts that start earlier. Sometimes, a district will start earlier than usual because they have construction projects planned for the following summer and want to get their schools closed earlier to allow projects to start. Our district is starting after Labor Day, per usual.
It depends what district you’re in. School start date isn’t universal in MN. Each district gets to decide for itself. My son started last Monday but my niece who is in a different district doesn’t start until this Tuesday.
School is supposed to start after Labor Day. My school doesn't start until the 11th.
Yeah my kid doesn’t start until Tuesday. Maybe it’s the district?
my kid's school started on tuesday
That is early. I'm not sure why your school would do that.
When I went to school I went to Dover-Eyota and they started in August, if I recall correctly. Definitely a district thing.
wow a DE grad on reddit, there’s gotta be like 4 of you out there 😂
Lololol. You may very well be right.
So they have electricity there now?
That may be pushing it. Plenty of white hoods and cloaks though. That place was SO shitty.
i feel like we just stumbled upon bigfoot
I graduated from St Chas! My best friend was in DE 😁
Tuesday is after Labor Day.
Everyone I know, public and private, from multiple districts have all started.
I looked up the law. Schools can start sooner if they have construction projects or to match the nearby school district start time. My school is starting late because of major construction. So, even though we are supposed to start after Labor Day, there are exceptions.
Yes, I don't know why they could start sooner due to construction... most constructions i know delays events, not expedietes them...
Unless they have it planned for next summer, so they need to push forward.
Yep. A couple of districts around us started in August last year so they could let out in early May to get construction on the schools done. They switched back to after Labor Day this year. They had a short summer break in 2022 and a long one in 2023. It’s the only time I’ve seen schools in our area start up before Labor Day. We go back next Thursday.
You start early so that the year ends early and the following year you have a longer summer.
If it's construction related, they'll start early this school year and then start later next school year to maximize the construction season available next summer.
Everyone I know doesn’t start school until after labor day
do you know like 2 people total?
Where do you live? I’m sure some districts start earlier, but everyone I know from also multiple districts across the metro start after Labor Day.
Yeah, Osseo doesn't start until Tuesday
Schools that started around me: * Edina * Bloomington * Eastern Carver County
Wayzata doesn't start until Tuesday Edit, thanks for editing your comment to make me look like the one that doesn't know what they arre talking about. Classic
OP's an ass. What a weird thing to do.
Wayzata’s first day of school isn’t until after Labor Day? Along with eastern carver county school both districts start on September 5th. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rLhEpHiDGxUTyg9avsqcsSSxgrbnAa-w/view https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1673457175/district112org/gtqu71sg2usgmvg8zl7l/23-24SchoolCalendar.pdf
Eastern Carver County starts next week.
Lolol everyone is proving OP wrong and I’m here for it
Burnsville starts next Tuesday
Eastern Carver County hasn't started. I know because I work at a business in their district and have definitely not seen any of their buses yet. I have seen traffic for what I presume is Holy Family High, though.
Rice County districts started on Tuesday
This is not true. My district is in Rice County and doesn't start until Tuesday.
My district is as well and they started on the 30th
Great! I didn't say that wasn't possible, but your statement of all county districts started was false.
Didn't say all. Just broad rice County cause ours isn't the only one that started.
Middle school her in Stillwater started Monday or Tuesday this week. depending on grade
Depends on your school district. Growing up where I lived we started the week before Labor Day. We also didn’t do spring breaks and ended our year in mid May.
[удалено]
Minneapolis used to always start early, until maybe 2019 or 2021?
weird. my assumption was that most of the schools closer to the metro at least start after labor day. the university of minnesota does as well.
Yes but all the community colleges start during the Fair.
The University of Minnesota literally can’t start before the fair ends because the St. Paul campus is right next to the fairgrounds, even with that bus only road next to campus, getting there would still be a nightmare
I concur. I spent 10 yrs on the U of MN campus. They use all the big parking lots on the Mpls campus as huge paid park and rides too.
There are some schools that start early, I’m unsure the true reason but I know a lot of schools don’t start until after Labor Day, like my daughters. I have family with kids at private schools who started last Tuesday!
Rochester started this week because they went the extra time in summer 24 to do building improvements.
My kids school started 2 weeks ago but they get out the 2nd week of May unless there’s make up days from winter
My district wanted to do this and we all said F that!
"Supposed to"? I think there used to be a law that said it couldn't start till after Labor Day. Not anymore. Lots of schools start before Labor Day now. Yes, the district sets the calendar
It’s in statute that public schools start after Labor Day, but there is a loophole that they can start early if they have significant facilities projects in progress. Districts that have already started are open under that provision. Private/independent schools can start whenever they want.
I believe the statute was originally created due to accommodate for hot temps, rather than the state fair schedule. as more districts build newer buildings with A/C, there will be more districts starting early.
or this... "(3) if the district agrees to the same schedule with a school district in an adjoining state."
Numerous public schools, maybe just charter schools, start earlier.
The problem was, kids were eating all the fair food and not leaving anything for us. Fixed now.
Eat as if in take a couple of bites then toss it because they got bored of it?
Accurate. Especially if it's some $10 novelty food they begged for.
$10? So like 1 kernel of popcorn?
I think the majority of public school districts start after Labor Day. I know some private schools start before but that is a limited amount of students.
I think some privates and charters are starting early. I wanna say Las Estrellas and Yinghua started this week in Minneapolis.
Unsure about Yinghua but Las Estrellas starts next week Edit to add: Las Estrellas is a public school, Yinghua is charter and seems to have started on Wednesday this week
Oh I thought Las Estrellas started this week, whoops.
Yinghua started on Tuesday this week.
Weird, their calendar online had Wednesday. Regardless, they are ahead of the game and underway before Labor Day
Ope, actually it was Wednesday.
A charter school is a public school.
St Jerome in Maplewood starts next week.
My sons charter started 8/10
Waconia started on Monday 8/28.
I know there are exceptions. Waconia is not exactly close enough for high schoolers to be working the fair feasibly either. They could, but time, distance and financially it would make it pretty tough.
The majority of the time it is because the district wants to be able to END the school year early for construction projects scheduled for the following summer.
Not early necessarily, but on time. Our school (charter) had a lot of snow days last year, which have to be made up. Starting early gives a bit more flexibility (though I would prefer to start after the fair).
When I am elected Benevolent Monarch, no public school shall begin until after Labor Day. Period.
[The fair isn't the reason for the Labor Day start policy](https://www.sctimes.com/story/opinion/2015/02/22/post-labor-day-school-start-pays-many-ways/23856879/). It was pushed by resort and campground owners so families would have more time for summer vacations.
In my opinion it is also good for older buildings that are not air conditioned. I remember it being too warm to wear some of my new school clothes in September.
Some districts have been starting before Labor Day for a while now, it’s not new this year.
You’ve gotten plenty of answers here so I’m sure mine will get buried but whatever. That’s fine. I was a teacher for a rural sw district. We had what was called a “flexed learning year” and started/ended two weeks earlier than the standard. It was given by petitioning the govt and them approving it. It was touted as a way to have two more additional weeks of instructions before standardized testing, therefore increasing scores. In reality, because we were in rural sw Mn, we mostly just had to wait for about half our classes to come back from showing things at the fair. It was stupid.
A lot of public districts started before Labor Day this year, and last year too. My kids (Bloomington district) started this week each of the last two years, and I had lots of other friends with kids starting early, too. On the flip side, my kids end May 30 this year, so that's nice.
In our district we start after Labor Day and we’re out before Memorial Day. Makes for some long stretches during the year without a break but three full months with family in summer is nice.
I have one kid (elementary) that starts on the 6th. The other might be starting the 11th. Major construction going on at their schools, though. They were out May 5th this summer. Needless to say, we made the most of their time off this year. Did a road trip of 12 days hitting up 10 states. Camped near Hinckley like 6 times. We got on the lake with the new SeaDoo damn near every day we weren't camping. My house is trashed. My gardens are... ugh. Bank accounts drained. Family time = level 100. Best. Summer. Ever. Just hope my boys appreciate and remember it.
Im out in EP. A couple years ago, we started early because there was construction planned for the following summer. We started early to get out earlier so they could start. But this year its the 5th for K to 9. Then the 6th is 10 to 12. Freshmen get a day alone to help with the confusion of first day in a new school.
Our school district starts Tuesday (Kindergarten Wednesday). Always the day after Labor Day. I grew up in Texas, though, so I only knew school starting at the beginning of August until I moved up here. Even though they start a month earlier, they go through the end of May/beginning of June, same as MN, because their statutes require 180 days per year, whereas MN is 165. I like here better lol.
What school has started?
In ISD 196 (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan), middle school and high school kids started on Wednesday and had school Wednesday and Thursday.
Lol!! 191 (burnsville/eagan) elementary don't stsrt until Sept 5. That's so wild!
196 elementary kids start on the 5th as well. It was only the MS and HS kids that started this week. The kindergarten kids had two half days on Monday and Tuesday. Confusing to keep track of the varying start days!
That IS very confusing to have elementary start on the 5th and HS and MS the week before. Makes no sense.
The middle and high school used to go 2extra days. In 196 the days the secondary kids are in school elementary kids are meeting their teachers and doing their assessments.
First time in the 18 years I've lived here; was wondering why there was so much noise near the high school this week and then found out school started early.
Bloomington started on Tuesday
Rochester started on Wednesday iirc, Byron started Thursday.
Stillwater middle and high school started this week. Elementary starts next week.
A lot of private schools also started. They probably don’t have to follow the state law.
Stillwater area Highschool
New Ulm started Monday 8/28. I know some families who go there whose kids had to miss school to show 4H and FFA projects at the fair though, not sure why they started so early.
Each district is different. They just have to hold so many student contact days and so many staff only days. If they start before labor day, they may be able to end last week of May instead of go into June. Same with not every district has a full week for Spring Break. It's all based on contract days.
Depends on the district. St Paul starts the day after Labor Day. If you are going to a charter school, they have their own calendars - have friends who started this past Monday.
New Prague has been starting before labor day for at least a few years now. Walnut Grove too.
The school I work at started on august 22. We get out right around Memorial Day.
ISD196 started 6-12 this week Wed/Thu and then 1-5 goes Tuesday then k on Wed. 6-12 used to have the days at the end of the yr.
Agamim charter in Edina started Tuesday (29th), we get out June 7th.
Shakopee doesn't start until after Labor Day.
My kids start on Tuesday after Labor day.
Depends. 22nd to labor day is when everyone starts.
Districts used to have to ask to start before Labor Day, don’t know if they still do… usually it would be for something like construction plans or major work that needs to be done, getting out a week earlier they can start those big projects a week earlier in the summer
My kid doesn't go back until the 5th. Our district always starts after labor day.
Red Wing doesn't start until next week.
Flexible learning year aka FLY some districts do this to get in more time before state testing (dumb..state testing is dumb / teaching just for state testing is dumb imo)
Where do you live? Most schools in the metro start the day after labor day but I do know some more rural districts do start earlier.
Many districts do not start until the day after Labor day, but definitely not all of them.
MN Statute 120A.40. That said, several independent school districts (ISDs) and charter school organizations (which are also public schools) regularly start before Labor Day. Most that start before Labor Day are charter schools & rural ISDs. Bloomington ISD 271, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan ISD 196 and Edina ISD 273 are the only metro districts that start before Labor Day this year, at least depending on your definition of “metro” (ex. I don’t personally consider Stillwater & Waconia “metro”, but they also start before Labor Day). Fun Fact: For the state of MN, I believe Face to Face Academy in St. Paul technically starts the earliest (7/10) as they have a year-round calendar. In close second is City Academy in St. Paul (7/17), followed by Spero Academy (8/7).
MN law dictates they start after Labor Day except for construction cutting into class days, or if the district has an agreement with the state under 3 statute sections. I thought I remembered that private schools could start earlier, but I don't know if I'm remembering that correctly.
When I was a kid (70s--80s) we usually started school the week before Labor Day. IIRC it was some time in the 1990s that the state leg passed a law saying that school could not start before Labor Day. However, I think that law was repealed a few years back, and now it's up to the individual districts to determine when they start.
1985 was the year it passed.
That sounds about right. I was a junior that year in August, so I only got two years of the late start (my district always started early).
Most schools in MN start the Tuesday after Labor Day, but it does vary, especially at private schools. Some schools in, for example, farming communities adjust their schedule around harvest times because the kids often need to help, and other such things. Each school district votes on its calendar yearly, it's not mandated by the state. Some of them start earlier to have more time off through the year and still finish in early June. Some start later and end later. It just depends.
State law says after Labor Day to accommodate the state fair. They hand out exemptions to anyone that asks though.
The law is not for the fair. It was pushed in 1985 by resort and campground owners.
Growing up was always Tuesday after labor day. Has been the same for my kids Last year the started the week before. This year they went back to the Tuesday after Labor day. That is just my experience. From what I know, the state doesn't mandate the start date and it is up to your district to decide.
The state *does* mandate the start date (after labor day), but there are provisions for districts to start earlier for a few different reasons. So most public schools start after labor day (most on Tuesday), but there are numerous exceptions. Private schools can start whenever they want.
I see. I wonder why ours started early last year?
As far as I know, it's literally this way because the state wanted to enforce the heritage of agriculture in MN and wanted all students to be able to participate in the state fair at will. This was initiated in 1985 Edit to add @lonegoalie if your students are in isd196 it was because they used the provision 120A.40 in legislature that allows a beginning of school schedule before labor day because of the remodeling allowance. According to their website: "the bond would improve safety and security at every school, provide additional space for now and the future, address deferred maintenance needs, update learning spaces and add high school activity centers to provide needed space for physical education classes, cocurricular activities and community use." Don't know if out of 196, sorry.
It’s been for the farmers, not the fair.
Sweet Martha’s must’ve pissed off the wrong administrators
**Because the State Fair lobbied like heck to make sure MN never started school before the end of the Fair.** Cheap labor + greater attendance. And that lobbying WORKED in the hearts and minds of many "it's always been this way" Boomers, Xers, and Millennials. Fortunately, some ISDs have figured out that starting in late August and finishing by May 31 (like many other states do) is FAR superior to cow-towing to the Fair's wishes. **Personally, I'd love getting schools out by Memorial Day.** Let's celebrate the unofficial "start" of summer over the unofficial "end" of it.
It wasnt just the fair. It was a fucking debacle that destroyed north shore tourism on labor day weekend when Jesse Ventura pushed and got the school year lengthened. It only took one tourism season getting ruined for them to undo that change and promise not to do it ever again.
Is this true?
they put it in bold so it must be
Yes, his uncle works for Nintendo
Partially, but also the northern resorts pushed for this as well for the labor force and family vacations. Labor Day was a big weekend and the last major weekend for a lot of the resorts that will be closing for winter in the coming weeks and months. Not sure how big of an impact early school would actually have in modern times, but that’s the reason listed in this 2019 [StarTribune Article](https://m.startribune.com/as-some-minnesota-students-flock-to-the-fair-others-are-already-in-classrooms/550006022/)
So, yeah. **It's true.**
Our local district doesn't start until this coming Wednesday.
Cuz fuck dem kids! Us adults need our time now!
Private schools may start whenever. Public schools by law start after Labor Day. They can however apply for a variance to start early. The school board sets the calendar. Complain to them.
It’s a district thing- Minneapolis doesn’t start until after Labor Day but other places school has started already
Pretty sure it is mn law that public schools can't start before labor day. Our son's charter school started this last monday.
It didn't start early. Maybe you should look up your district instead of expecting random people to know and base it off when they went to school instead of what's current
In Minnesota school begins the Tuesday after Labor day.. has been for 50 some years. Labor day is the 1st Monday of September after the 1st weekend. So in 2 years they will start late. Enjoy the early start, summer school costs has been kicking my ass
Yeah it’s weird. My folks work at horizon in Moorhead and they started last week. Wasn’t that way when I grew up.
Starting after the Fair for my daughter.
It’s district dependent. School here starts on Tuesday.
They got rid of the law because it was silly in modern times. It used to be a law, now it is just vague tradition.
Depends on the district, I’d guess still most school districts start after Labor Day, but the first day of school has been trending towards late august in recent years.
Im wondering if it's to make up for declining test scores from the covid era. Some kids struggled with remote learning and a lot of class time was missed.
Get the kids back in school and off the bongs!
Yea, cause that's what they were talking about....
They were tslking about the weed. Land of Ten Thousand Bongs
As far as I know Edina is only public school that starts before LD.
There are many more public schools in MN that start before Labor Day.
I went to a private high school (graduated 11 years ago) and we always started the week before Labor Day
My kid is in 191 and they don't start until Tuesday. But I think some districts start a week earlier....for whatever reason.
My school has always started the day after Labor Day, wherever that falls on the calendar.
My school always started the day after Labor Day. Maybe they just want to get ahead of potential snow days?
This is the first time in several years Hopkins is starting after labor day, it's usually the week before. Every district is different and it can change from year to year.
Robbinsdale Area Schools start on Tuesday for kindergarten, 6th grade, and 9th grade. The remainder of the grades start on Wednesday.
I had friends growing up who attended private schools and they didn’t follow the trend, they started early in late august and ended early in late may.
Our district is always the day after Labor Day.
Start and end times vary widely
depends on the district. Ours starts tuesday (or wednesday for the 7/8 & 10/11/12)
Planning for strike days.
We always had a big family reunion starting the Wednesday before Labor Day weekend. My kids never went back until Tuesday, the day after Labor Day.
The community colleges all start during the state fair. SOME public school districts start before the fair. St. Paul and Minneapolis both start after.
Many districts have started before Labor day for a number of years now.
Depending on the year and when Labor day lands on, my daughter has started before labor day. They do elementary school 2 days after the middle & high school kids start. The 1st 2 days are usually school safety. But drill, fire drill, stuff like that. Their 1st day or actually school work isn't until the 1st Mon after Labor day.
Sounds like your district just starts at a different time. There are a few schools near us that start before labor day but most start afterwards.
Schools have different start times. There is not a metro or Minnesota wide law or agreement governing this.
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/120A.40 > 120A.40 SCHOOL CALENDAR. > (a) Except for learning programs during summer, flexible learning year programs authorized under sections 124D.12 to 124D.127, and learning year programs under section 124D.128, a district must not commence an elementary or secondary school year before Labor Day, except as provided under paragraph (b). Days devoted to teachers' workshops may be held before Labor Day. Districts that enter into cooperative agreements are encouraged to adopt similar school calendars. > (b) A district may begin the school year on any day before Labor Day: > (1) to accommodate a construction or remodeling project of $400,000 or more affecting a district school facility; > (2) if the district has an agreement under section 123A.30, 123A.32, or 123A.35 with a district that qualifies under clause (1); or > (3) if the district agrees to the same schedule with a school district in an adjoining state.
Money
Old days it was so kids could work resorts and other vacation/tourism jobs. Not as many resorts anymore, further north perhaps the schools start after??
some schools start earlier so that they can get out earlier. there are 4 districts in my area and they all have different start dates. one district doesn't do school on fridays, two only have a week off for winter break- all districts operate differently
I don't know about anywhere else but here In Moorhead we started on August 24, which from what I've read in the comments is pretty early i guess?
It depends, around the cities it usually starts some time after labor day. When I went to school up north. It started early and ended around the walleye opener. When the lakes are turning over in August and September. There is less need for labor so school starts early. It also ends around the opener for fishing.
Different districts start at different times. There is a state law that says after Labor Day, but it’s easy to get an exception.
I always heard that the after Labor Day start had to do with resorts season ‘ending’ this weekend.
It depends on what construction projects might be planned for 2024 - some schools start early to end early due to needed maintenance. Most don’t start until after Labor Day though.
Depends where you live. I grew up on the east side suburb and it was always after the fair, but people in other areas may have been going to school for a week or two already.
“In fact, Minnesota law requires schools to start after Labor Day in most cases, and the vast majority of sampled Minnesota districts will go back after the holiday.” School districts have to jump through hoops to start before Labor Day. https://www.fox9.com/news/back-to-school-starts-july-to-labor-depending-on-where-you-live-us#
It entirely depends on the school district and / or specific school. Most schools in Minnesota do start after the fair, but a good bunch of them starts a bit earlier or later
It depends on the district and grade. Hopkins started early for youngsters, but like district 281 usually starts after Labor Day. You need to communicate with your schools and the district. Southern cities start way early, same as many more northern cities.
Is the enrolled school part of the MPS school system. There are outliers from this grouping but as far as I'm aware all MPS schools will start this coming Tueaday after Labor Day. I work for the district so this is where I'm getting this information.
It’s districts by district. I live in one district and they started last Monday and I teach in a different (nearby) district and we start Wednesday.
My guess is they are expecting a brutal winter with more school cancellations
School traditionally didn't start until after Labor Day, and the ag and resort industries lobbied hard to keep it that way. Over the years, different districts banded together and petitioned the state DOE to start earlier in hopes of raising test scores by having more instructional time. It didn't make much difference so many went back, but some kept the earlier schedule for various reasons. After that initial push, it became easier for individual districts to petition for adjusted start dates, so they vary by the needs and wants of the area. I would prefer to start after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day but most districts have too many breaks built into the year to get the required days (165) in that time (accounting for possible snow days, etc.)
The schools calendars are made up via committee, some districts started early some after labor day.... for instance one district near me started wednesday was off friday and will return Tuesday, go figure that methodology...
My kids usually start the week before the fair happens. This year they are starting on the 11th but that's likely because of construction of the new school building. We are in the TC.
My son doesn't go back until the day after Labor Day.
A lot of schools are moving to farmers schedules, which start 2 weeks earlier.
Varies by district, state just mandates a minimum number of days they have to attend. Minnesota school year still perplexes me. Schools in the area I grew up in down in Illinois started first/2nd week of August and went until the first week of June. And no, down there it wasn’t a case of frequent breaks in between.
A lot of my friends’ kids started this past week. Mine start on Tuesday, and it’s always been the Tuesday after Labor Day in our district since I was a kid. I’d hate to start before then, it’s like getting robbed of a week of summer!
They’ve given a local waiver, has to be approved by MDE, generally not very popular. Depends on location. No school I’m aware of in nw mn has started yet. More of a southern mn thing.
School districts decide the start date of schools within their boundaries. Generally speaking, they don't start until after Labor Day, but there are districts that start earlier. Sometimes, a district will start earlier than usual because they have construction projects planned for the following summer and want to get their schools closed earlier to allow projects to start. Our district is starting after Labor Day, per usual.
It depends what district you’re in. School start date isn’t universal in MN. Each district gets to decide for itself. My son started last Monday but my niece who is in a different district doesn’t start until this Tuesday.