Here’s why some Minnesota school districts are starting before Labor Day this year

In Minnesota, public schools typically don’t hold the first day of class until after Labor Day. It’s not just tradition — it’s the law.

The Legislature passed a mandate in 1985 that “a school district shall not commence an elementary or secondary school year prior to Labor Day.” That law has been in effect in some form since the start of the 1986-87 school year, with some exemptions allowed to accommodate major construction projects or to align calendars across state lines.

But this year, things look a little bit different.

With Labor Day falling on Sept. 7 in 2026 and on Sept. 6 in 2027, the Legislature decided in 2025 to pass Read Entire Article