Students across the Twin Cities, including those in the Anoka-Hennepin School District, return to the classroom on Tuesday—marking one of the latest school start dates in recent memory.
More than 40 Minnesota school districts chose to start before Labor Day, under a temporary state exemption allowing classes to begin as early as Sept. 1 for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years. Normally, state law requires districts to receive prior state approval to start before the holiday.
For many students, however, the calendar date was second to the excitement of a fresh start.
"It's a new school, so I don't know, but it's a two-story school, I've never had a two-story school," one student told WCCO Radio's Taylor River during the last day of the Minnesota State Fair. "I'm really looking forward to meeting my teacher tomorrow."
Gov. Tim Walz will continue an annual tradition on Tuesday by greeting students on their first day back. Walz and Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Willie Jett will visit a Northfield school, where they plan to join staff in serving lunch to students.
While most districts are just getting underway, students in Stillwater Area Public Schools have been in school since mid-August. Stillwater adopted an earlier schedule to address student mental health concerns and align quarter ends with natural winter and spring breaks.
"It really provides more time on the front end for our students, giving them extra days of instruction," Funk told WCCO Radio’s Vineeta Sawkar. "So when they're taking their AP exams—and really their MCAs in the spring—we'll have seven or eight more days than we would have had previously."
The new school year also comes with financial constraints. Stillwater is currently navigating a $500,000 to $600,000 budget deficit following recent state legislative decisions.
"In a normal year we would just add staff, but because we were shorted on what was provided by the Legislature, we ended up having to create some combination classes," Funk explained. "Combination classes aren't new to Stillwater—we've done them previously for a number of years—but it's been probably six or seven years since they were last used."
Temporary Minnesota exemption allowed for school to begin before Labor Day
Temporary Minnesota exemption allowed for school to begin before Labor Day
