Q&A on the News

Q: Can you explain why Georgia schools begin the school year in early August, the middle of the summer? I grew up with school starting after Labor Day and concluding in mid-June. AUDREY HELFMAN, ROSWELL

A: Unlike some other states, Georgia state law allows local school districts to set their calendars, Meghan Frick, spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Education, told Q&A on the News via email.

“The school year is required to consist of 180 days or the equivalent, but school districts have the authority to set their own start and end dates,” Frick wrote.

She added that for the 201819 school year, district start dates are as early as July 26 and as late as Sept. 4.

The trend appears to favor the earlier start dates. An AJC story last year noted that 10 years ago, mid-August was the start date for many of the largest school districts in metro Atlanta. One reason was to provide longer and more breaks throughout the school year.

“School calendar decisions often come down to adult preferences, vacation deals and pressure to stay in tune with neighboring districts,” the story noted.

CNN reported in 2015 that school start dates also had moved up to late July in some districts in Indiana, Hawaii and Arizona, and at least midto late-August in districts in Florida, Texas, Colorado, California and Alaska. In addition to parental preferences, educators told CNN that an earlier start date “gives teachers more instructional time before statewide assessment tests in the spring.”

Q&A on the News runs Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).