SHARE YOUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL PHOTOS HERE
AUSTIN – A new debate is brewing in Texas over when students should start the school year, with North Texas state Rep. Jared Patterson calling for a later start date and saying beginning classes in August is a costly mistake.
“Starting school during the hottest month of year is among the dumbest things we do as a state,” Patterson wrote on X. “It doesn’t make sense for student athlete safety, it doesn’t make sense for the economy, it doesn’t make sense for ISD budgets, and it doesn’t make sense for the electric grid.”
Patterson also argued that “cooling the largest buildings during the hottest month is an extreme waste of taxpayer dollars,” and said, “Teachers shouldn’t go back until Sept 1, and students after that. Stay in school longer through May. Even early June would better than mid-August. Legislation is coming (again).”
U.S. Rep. Craig Goldman responded on X, saying he and former state Rep. Matt Krause previously pushed for a similar change.
“@MattKrauseTX and I tried for many sessions @JaredLPatterson,” Goldman wrote. “Start date should be the Tuesday after Labor Day and last day of school should be the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. The problem is, it makes common sense and you know what happens when you bring that into government? Good luck in the 90th!”