WASHINGTON — This year, Prince William County Public Schools started classes Sept. 2, the day after Labor Day. But next year, classes will start before Labor Day.
The school system has racked up enough snow days in recent years to earn a waiver from Virginia’s so-called “King’s Dominion Law,” which prevents school systems from starting classes before Labor Day.
Wednesday night, the county school board approved a new calendar for the 2015-2016 school year that begins classes on Aug. 31, 2015. Also, it includes two full weeks off for winter break. The last day of classes will be June 17, 2016.
“This board has asked the state, for at least eight years running … to be able to start before Labor Day,” Prince William County School Board Chairman Milton Johns said. “So this can’t be a surprise to the community that we wanted to do this.”
Before the vote, several board members said they had heard from parents concerned that the earlier school calendar would cut students’ summer jobs short and would conflict with vacations that have already been booked. But in the end, the vote in favor of the new calendar was unanimous.
Loudoun County Public Schools have also qualified for a waiver from state law, and will also open before Labor Day in 2015.
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