(Des Moines)– Lawmakers that represent the Iowa Great Lakes at the statehouse in Des Moines say they once again will introduce legislation this session that would push back the state’s school start date to after Labor Day.
State Senator David Johnson of Ocheyedan says Minnesota and Wisconsin have school start dates that are much later than those in Iowa, yet students in those states show great academic achievement.
Meanwhile, Johnson says Iowa is losing business and revenue opportunities with the late start. He says it’s especially felt in areas such as the Iowa Great Lakes, where employers typically struggle to find workers for the rest of the season after school starts.
Johnson says he and State Representative Mike May hope to present legislation soon in both legislative chambers that would address the issue.
Similar bills in the past have made it through the Senate, only to die in the House.
