Did you know that, with one small change, we could help save Pennsylvania families over $4.6 million per day in childcare costs while adding almost $400 million annually to our state’s economy? Currently, in Pennsylvania, no uniformity exists as to when a school can begin the academic year. Instead, local school boards govern individual district starting dates. While I acknowledge the geographical differences that make up each of the 500 school districts across Pennsylvania, starting the school year after Labor Day would be better economically for families and for Pennsylvania as a whole.

Because of this, I will be introducing legislation that requires schools to begin their school year no earlier than the day after Labor Day. Other states such as Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Virginia have enacted similar laws and have begun to see boosts in their economy as well as substantial savings in utility costs. In our state, where tourism is the second biggest revenue source, a later start would equal more money for Pennsylvania.

By supporting this legislation, you would be helping Pennsylvania, and its families, prosper.