Although a 20-year–old state law requires school districts to start the school year after Sept. 1, several districts in Wisconsin are seeking exemptions, according to a report from the Wisconsin State Journal. The law was passed in 1999 to appease tourism groups that say the industry relies on a long summer season.
Districts seeking to begin classes before Sept. 1 say they are trying to offset disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses reliant on tourism argue that they are already hurting financially from the pandemic.
