Arlington, TX

For the first time in more than 10 years, all Texas schools are going back to school on the same day. In recent years, the start date was August 21, but many districts received waivers to start as early as the first week in August. That all changes this year because of new state legislation that passed in 2006. The new law makes August 27 the earliest that any district can start and waivers are no longer being issued. The good news for most students is that they got an extra 2 weeks of summer vacation. The bad news is they probably won’t get out of school until early June, as most districts have made up for the late start by adding a week or two at the end of the year. 

Also new this year:

• In an effort to curb childhood obesity, elementary students will be required to have at least 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity each day. For schools that don’t have PE every day, this means that the child must have an active recess. At my son’s school, this means that no child will be punished by missing recess. I am very happy about that! The new law also requires students in 3rd through 12th grades to have a “fitness test”. The results will be shared with the child’s parents and with the state. By law, individual results will remain confidential.
• Incoming ninth graders are facing stronger math and science requirements. Students in the recommended graduation plan will now be required to take algebra I & II, geometry and a fourth math class. Students in the distinguished achievement graduation plan must take algebra I and II, geometry and a fourth class for which algebra II is a prerequisite, such as Advanced Placement calculus, AP statistics or dual-enrollment classes at the college level. For science, students in the recommended and distinguished plans must earn credits in biology, chemistry and physics. The fourth credit must be from a lab-based class, such as astronomy, Earth and space science, engineering or AP classes.
• Boys and girls in grades 9 through 12 who participate in University Interscholastic League sports are now subject to random screening for anabolic steroids. Schools will be given about 24 hours’ notice that testers will be on site. Schools will get a list of which students must report for screening.

Arlington, Arlington TX, First Day of School, New State Law, Physical Activity, Math and Science Requirements, Steroid Testing