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As snow days pile up state legislators push to allow districts option of starting before Labor Day

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Under legislation in the state House, Michigan school districts could start their school year before Labor Day.

Currently, school districts need a state waiver to begin before Labor day. That law was enacted in 2005 in part to assist the tourism industry.

Republican State Representative Steve Johnson introduced the new legislation. He said the growing number of snow days are heightening the conversation around giving districts more flexibility.

“This bill is just about allowing each individual school district to decide when they should start school for themselves. It’s about getting Lansing out of the way and allowing those who most know their kids needs to make that decision.”

 
A spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Education said they are in support of the legislation. They say in recent years there has been an increase in the number of requests for snow day waivers.
 
 
 
A second bill in the state senate, which would have forgiven this year’s snow days, remains in committee. Without that legislation many school districts are expected to be pushing the school year into the summer. 
 
 
Justin Winslow is the President and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association. He said the  law dictating schools start after Labor Day was put in place to help the tourism industry. Without it, he said, Michigan’s tourism economy could take a hit.

“A bad August is really the difference between profiting or not when you consider how important that month is to the industry overall.”

Winslow said sending a many of the high school aged seasonal workers back to school before the end of the season could create worker shortages.

Representative Johnson said he doesn't think the tourism industry should be dictating education policy.