Parents Trying To Get Classes To Start Later

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — A group of parents is making a push to mandate that North Dakota schools start classes after Labor Day.

The group plans to circulate petitions to put an initiated measure on the November 2014 ballot. The petition will need approval from the secretary of state, and then proponents will need to collect about 13,500 signatures.

Each school district in the state is free to set its own calendar, including the starting date for the academic year. Parent Kelly Heinert says delaying the start of classes until after Labor Day would give families more time to enjoy summer weather.

Bismarck Superintendent Tamara Uselman tells The Bismarck Tribune that the drawback would be that the school year likely would not be able to end before Memorial Day.