A new statewide survey finds families would rather start school after Labor Day.
Many Mid-Michigan school districts applied for and received waivers from the state to move the the start date to August, instead of after Labor Day because of a new state law that increases the number of days students must be in class from 175 to 180.
The survey from the Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association was conducted from August 9-10 and finds 64 percent of voters support the law requiring public school districts to start after Labor Day with 25 percent opposed.
The Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association thinks districts should just extend the school year into June instead of starting in August.
“Families support starting school after Labor Day by more than a two-to-one margin,” said Deanna Richeson, Michigan Lodging & Tourism Association (MLTA) president and CEO. “Why are schools denying Michigan parents the chance to create lifelong memories with their children? Instead, they’re forcing children into hot classrooms in mid-August when they can just as easily extend the school year longer into June.”
Richeson says July and August are the most popular months for vacations and says limiting vacations in either of those months will do real damage to the state. Tourism is Michigan's third largest industry. The MLTA says in 2014, tourism generated $19.5 billion in economic activity, more than 214,000 jobs, and more than $1 billion in state tax revenue.
