Wisconsin Lawmakers Consider Early School Start Date

October 4, 2023 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

Some legislators are pushing to allow public schools to start before Septeber 1.

Wisconsin Lawmakers Consider Early School Start Date

According to current law, public schools may not start fall classes until after September 1st. However, some legislators believe public schools should be allowed to start classes in late August, during one of the busiest tourism related travel months in Wisconsin. Senate Bill 429, introduced by Senator Duey Stroebel (Saukville) and Assembly Bill 435, introduced by Representative Amy Binsfeld (Plymouth), would repeal the September 1st start date and allow schools to start fall classes the Monday preceding Labor Day. Local school boards currently have the authority to establish their own calendars for vacations, holidays, in-service hours, early dismissal days, parent-teacher conferences, etc. The legislation recently introduced and referred to committee would allow schools to start classes in late August, which, according to opponents, would disrupt family vacations and travel during the second busiest tourism-related travel month in Wisconsin. Minnesota and Michigan, two major competitors for Wisconsin’s tourism revenue, have state laws that prohibit schools from starting until after Labor Day, which would put Wisconsin at a competitive disadvantage with our neighbor states. The Tourism Federation of Wisconsin says repealing the September 1st school start date would lead to less revenue for Wisconsin’s businesses that rely on a vibrant, growing tourism industry, and fewer visitors means less tax revenue for the State of Wisconsin. NFIB members support the September 1st start date for public schools, according to state survey ballot results.

Topics:

Taxes

State:

Wisconsin

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