School Start DateAn Economic Prospective

Traditionally, Labor Day for Americans marked the end of summer and the beginning of the academic school year. This was true until April 1983, when the National Commission on Education released a report titled “A Nation at Risk”. The report raised concerns throughout the nation about the quality of education for our children compared to students in other industrialized nations who were outperforming American students. The report stated, “International comparisons of student achievement reveal that on nineteen academic tests American students were never first or second and, in comparison with other industrialized nations, were last seven times.”

This report led to a movement for American schools to become more accountable for how much our students learn. As the states attempted to become more accountable, they had to look for ways to measure student achievement. Many of the schools decided to accomplish this by testing students before winter break. Schools discovered tha...