Summers have been getting shorter and shorter. What used to be every student’s 11 weeks of sun, sleep and sand is now only nine weeks. Your school system is chipping away at your glorious free time. 

In the 2015-2016 school year, schools in Frederick County started on August 22nd, two days earlier than the year before.

That means you had 67 days of summer in the year 2015. In summer 2016, you will have 63 days of summer which isn’t good for your tan.

The sunshine petition known as “Let Summer Be Summer” was founded by the 33rd Maryland comptroller Peter Franchot.

“Let Summer Be Summer” was created in 2014 in order to extend summer. Instead of going to school in August, students would return to school after Labor Day.

According to Franchot’s calculations, starting school after Labor Day is proven to have an effect on the economy by helping small businesses and creating $74.3 million a year in direct revenue for the state’s economy, and will create nearly $8 million in added tax revenue.  

This money would be coming from money spent at popular stores and on vacation trips, especially to Maryland resorts like Ocean City, made during the summer.

This petition would also allow students to have more time with their friends and be able to create amazing memories with their families during the break, something few students would be able to pass up.

However, there are a few cons to go with the “Sunshine Petition.”

This petition was presented in January 2016 to the General Assembly.  Last year’s similar effort was not approved. This is the third year Franchot has had a petition drive.

Worcester is the only Maryland county that opens after Labor Day.  Ocean City is in Worcester County.  

The 180 day requirement for schools would be more difficult, but not impossible.  Other days off would have to be removed–like Frederick Fair Day.  Or schools could make shorter spring and winter breaks.  If schools were to use up all of their built-in snow days, the school year may need to extended later into June.

In addition to this, some people might actually want to go back to school and could get bored over long summer.

There are also some concerns that teachers will have to reteach students since they are most likely to forget what they’ve learned.

Research shows, that “Most students lose about two months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills over the summer months”. 

Also,  “Parents consistently cite summer as the most difficult time to ensure that their children have productive things to do.”

Furthermore, schools provide a free lunch program for students in need. Extending the summer can hit those students hard.  Parents have to pay for daycare and summer camps.  These expenses need to be considered.

So far, the “Let Summer Be Summer” petition thousands of signatures–Governor Larry Hogan is one.

In order to place an issue on the state ballot, the petition needs at least 55,000. 

So lets “Let Summer be Summer.” Sign the petition today.