The Saskatchewan government has introduced legislation to change the start of the 2012-13 school year to fulfill one of Premier Brad Wall’s campaign promises.
When the amendment to the Education Act is enacted, the earliest the school year will start is the first day after the Labour Day long weekend.
“This change will mean that students and their families can fully enjoy the last long weekend of summers, as they do in other provinces including British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario,” said Education Minister Donna Harpauer.
The latest the school year would end is June 30.
The government says it has started consultations with teachers, school boards and divisions to develop regulations on school hours, holidays, vacations and variations in the length of the school year.
“We are listening and we are going to get input,” said Harpauer.
“We envision that the regulations will still allow school divisions the flexibility to set their own school year calendar in consultation with teachers, parents and the local community.”
Boards would continue to set specific timelines for the opening and closing dates of schools, hours of operation and the general schedule of operation for the school year along with retaining the autonomy to allow teachers to begin working earlier to prepare for the school year.
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