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Local School Superintendents Oppose Post-Labor Day School Start

February 27th, 2015 by WCBC Radio

A bill to prohibit public schools from not starting the school year before Labor Day got a hearing Thursday in the House Ways and Means Committee. Supporters say extending summer vacation by between five and 10 days would increase family time and help small businesses that would benefit from a boost in tourism-related revenue. But there is opposition. Allegany and Garrett county school superintendents oppose the idea, saying that a post-Labor Day start doesn't work well with the weather in western Maryland. Allegany County School Superintendent David Cox says coping with lost days due to inclement weather faced in the higher elevations of this region, area educators strugge to meet the state mandated 180 days of instructional time per school year. Teachers are also under pressure to implement the new common core curriculum standards and the associated testing system, Partnershop for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career. It appears to be an uphill battle for the local superintendents as the legislation has the backing of not only Comptroller Peter Franchot but also Governor Larry Hogan…





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