state senate committee to initiate recommendations on school start, end dates.

5years ago

Members of state Senate committee will release its first recommendations on school start and end dates on Friday.

The Senate Study Committee on Evaluating the School Year Calendar of Georgia Public Schools held the final of four meetings at the State Capitol.

the recommendations include starting school no earlier than seven to 10 days before Labor Day and ending the school year around June 1.

"They could set their start dates any time they want after that and they could have their breaks any time they want throughout that calendar. So, that preserves the local control aspect," explained Committee Chairman Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega.

Local control has been the main concern expressed by those who have attended the study committee meetings this fall, said Gooch.

The committee's recommendations are just a starting point and according to Gooch, no lawmakers have drafted any school calendar legislation yet for the upcoming session.

The vote, though, could serve as a warning to local school officials.

"I think it would help to send a message back to the school boards, 'Hey, we want more involvement in this decision process. We want more parents involved in the decision making with their kids,'" Gooch said.