HB 1084 -- SCHOOL TERM CALENDARS

SPONSOR:  Fraser

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Education-
Elementary and Secondary by a vote of 20 to 1.

This bill repeals the prohibition against starting school earlier
than September 1.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that less than 20 districts start
September 1 or later.  To have a law that is broadly ignored or
gotten around with exceptions is bad public policy.  Setting the
school start date should be a local decision.  The economic
argument for a statewide uniform date is not viable anymore.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Fraser; Missouri
Federation of Teachers; Missouri Council of School
Administrators; Missouri School Board Association; Cooperating
School Districts of the Suburban Kansas City Area; Cooperating
School Districts of Greater St. Louis; Missouri National
Education Association; and Missouri State Teachers Association.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that there is an
economic argument to be made in that spur-of-the-moment vacations
have a real effect on the smaller tourist attractions.

Testifying against the bill was Missouri Attraction Association.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:00 am