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NEWS OF THE HOUR Florida School Start Date Law: Florida Statute 1001.42 (f)Opening and closing of schools; fixing uniform date.--Adopt policies for the opening and closing of schools and fix uniform dates; however, beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, the opening date for schools in the district may not be earlier than 14 days before Labor Day each year. (Please note: a law was passed to allow Acadmeically High Performing School Districts the ability to begin the school year earlier than statute 1001.42 allows. To see the statute pertaining to Acadmeically High Performing School Districts, click here.) Who Are We? — Save Our Summers - Florida is a grassroots coalition of parents, teachers and administrators in support of the current school start date law and against allowing any school district to begin prior to 14 days before Labor Day. What Are Our Goals? - Maintain the current school start date law prohibiting school districts from beginning earlier than 14 days before Labor Day.  - Eliminate the ability for academically high performing districts to have the ability to start the school year before other districts. - Continue educating the community, school board members and superintendents about the cost savings associated with late-August school start dates and traditional school calendars.     How Can You Help Us Achieve Our Goals?  — - Send a message to your state representative and state senator, letting him/her know how you feel about the school start date issue and the ability a small elite group to begin before the majority of Florida schools. Simply click on the "Take Action" - contact your legislator button to the right. -Sign our "on-line" petition, link is to the right. By signing our petition you will allow us to send you email updates about pending legislation and events impacting the school start date in your school district. - Send a link to our website to your friends, neighbors and collegues -- encourage them to look at the site and join our efforts. - Talk to your local school board members and let them know that early-August school start dates are fiscally irresponsible and take away from valuable family time during summer months.