(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/17/22) The number of school districts requesting waivers to start the school year before Labor Day continued its slow rise going into the 2022-23 school year, according to Department of Education data.
Section 380 of the Michigan School Code prohibits public schools from starting up before Labor Day unless they obtain a waiver, with the exception of the 2021-2022 school year, when a gubernatorial executive order allowed all districts to start at their discretion.
Waivers are valid for three years, and schools that obtain one can start before or after Labor Day during that time period.
From 2019-2021, 150 school districts obtained waivers. That number has slowly increased, with 160 total from 2020-2022, 144 during 2021-2023 and 189 requested ahead of 2022-2024.
For the years of 2023-2025, 182 schools have requested waivers.
The districts that have applied range from Adrian to Wyandotte Public Schools. Intermediate or countywide school districts (ISDs) can apply for district-wide waivers on behalf of their constituent districts, but constituent districts are not required to start before Labor Day if they receive one.
The number of ISDs has also increased, with 29 from 2019-2021, 40 from 2020-2022, 48 from 2021-2023, 49 during 2022-2024 and 47 ahead of 2023-2025.
