Starting school after Labor Day will hurt Maryland students

HAND IT to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), for political savvy at least, in choosing the Ocean City boardwalk as backdrop for his announcement that Maryland public schools cannot open until after Labor Day starting next year. Give him less credit for caring about the educational needs of the state’s students. In fact, we would say it is a sad day when education policy is driven by Tilt-A-Whirl attendance in Ocean City rather than what’s best for students. Let’s hope lawmakers figure out a way to return rationality to this matter.

Mr. Hogan on Wednesday announced that he had signed an executive order mandating that public schools begin classes after Labor Day and complete the state-required 180 days of instruction by June 15. The order would take effect with the 2017-2018 school year. “School after Labor Day is now the law of the land,” he crowed, flanked by Comptroller Peter Franchot, a Democrat who has made a crusade out of extending summer vacations from school.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/starting-school-after-labor-day-will-hurt-maryland-students/2016/09/01/15e76c58-7059-11e6-8365-b19e428a975e_story.html?utm_term=.0dfcbf1e4db9