Late Labor Day prompts early school start dates across Minnesota

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) – Minnesota lawmakers changed state law in 2025 to allow public school districts to start classes on or after Sept. 1 for this school year and next, because Labor Day falls late this year, on Sept. 7.

According to the Minnesota Department of Education, at least 45 districts statewide welcomed students back before Sept. 1.

Local districts among early starters

Albert Lea and Austin both started classes Aug. 19.

Rochester Public Schools also started before Sept. 1. Its phased return by grade level began Aug. 24.

Other districts, including Winona, started classes Sept. 1. Additional first days of school will continue into next week, after Labor Day.

Law tied to 1980s legislation

The two-year deviation from state law is tied to legislation approved in St. Paul in the 1980s. The after-Labor Day start took effect during the 1986-87 school year.

The law allows for pre-Labor Day starts under certain circumstances even when Labor Day lands earlier on the calendar. Those circumstances include major school construction projects and aligning school calendars with a district in an adjoining state.

The post-Labor Day start date also coincides with the end of the Minnesota State Fair, where many young people have livestock and other exhibits.

Iowa’s earliest start date

Aug. 23 is the earliest a school year can start in Iowa. There is talk in Des Moines about changing that state law to move the date earlier.

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