DELAWARE STATE SENATE

150th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 204

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REQUIRING SCHOOLS TO START EACH SCHOOL YEAR AFTER LABOR DAY.

WHEREAS, the School Start Task Force was created to study the advisability of starting each school year after Labor Day; and

WHEREAS, the School Start Task Force concluded that a post-Labor Day start to the school year would be minimally disruptive to the educational system; and

WHEREAS, the School Start Task Force also concluded that a post-Labor Day start to the school year could deliver substantial economic benefits to many Delawareans; and

WHEREAS, the School Start Task Force found that Virginia, a state that requires public schools to start after Labor Day, would lose $369 million, including $104 million wages, by a shortened summer. Further, the Task Force found that Maryland, a state that is considering mandating public schools start after Labor Day, would generate $74.3 million in new economic activity and $7.7 million in new state and local tax revenue if school started post-Labor Day; and

WHEREAS, these economic benefits would occur in Delaware, where the tourism industry is the 3rd largest private employer in the State and visitors generated $2.2 billion towards the GDP in 2012; and

WHEREAS, a majority of members of the School Start Task Force voted to recommend that the State of Delaware require that each school year start after Labor Day.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 41, Title 14, Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 4141. Start of the School Year.

A public school district, vocational-technical school district, or charter school may not begin a school year until after Labor Day.

Section 2. This Act takes effect for the 2020/2021 school year.

SYNOPSIS

This Act requires public schools to begin their school year after Labor Day. There have been many economic impact reports done that show a positive impact from starting public schools after Labor Day. A report by the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association estimates that $369 million would be lost if schools were not required to start after Labor Day. This includes $104 million in wages and $21 million in state and local taxes. Maryland is considering similar legislation. A study of Maryland found that pushing the start of school back would generate $74.3 million in economic activity and $7.7 million in new state and local tax revenue.

This Act takes effect for the 2020/2021 school year.

Author: Senator Hocker