Missouri Denies Over 130 Schools' Requests for Earlier Start Dates

State law prohibits schools from starting more than 14 days before the first Monday in September

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has denied requests from over 130 schools across the state to start classes earlier than the current state law allows. The denials impact districts like Nixa Public Schools and Walnut Grove School District, which have opposed the rigid start date requirement that they say doesn't account for the unique needs of different communities.

Why it matters

The denied requests create challenges for curriculum planning and coordination with local colleges, as well as potential impacts on economic development in school communities. School officials argue the state law limits local control and the ability to best serve students.

The details

Missouri law prohibits schools from starting more than 14 days before the first Monday in September. Over 130 schools across the state, including Nixa Public Schools and Walnut Grove School District, had requested earlier start dates but were denied by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. School officials say the rigid start date requirement doesn't account for the unique needs of different districts and their communities, impacting curriculum planning, coordination with local colleges, and economic development.

  • The denials were announced by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on Wednesday, February 15, 2026.
  • Missouri law prohibits schools from starting more than 14 days before the first Monday in September.

The players

Nixa Public Schools

A school district in Missouri that had requested an earlier start date but was denied.

Walnut Grove School District

A school district in Missouri that had requested an earlier start date but was denied, leading to challenges in curriculum planning for semester-based courses.

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

The state agency that denied the requests from over 130 schools across Missouri to start classes earlier than the current state law allows.

Zac Rantz

Chief Communication Officer with Nixa Public Schools, who has been vocal about the district's opposition to the state's start date restriction.

Rory Henry

Superintendent of Walnut Grove School District, who says the denied request will require teachers to carefully manage content and time in semester-based courses.

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What they’re saying

“Ever since the law changed, we've been vocal about that, saying, really, this is not what's best for students. Because we spent years really listening to our elected officials saying you need to get students college and career ready. And so, we really partnered up with our local colleges and really tried to kind of blend our calendars together. Get those start and end dates about the same.”

— Zac Rantz, Chief Communication Officer (ky3.com)

“It's about a 15-day difference. And so, when you're talking about a semester-based course, I mean, with content, your 15 days of content in the first semester is gonna be a little bit different. So, teachers are gonna have to just really make sure that they're utilizing time and trying to get as much of the content as they can in at the time that they have.”

— Rory Henry, Superintendent (ky3.com)

“It's really important that the local communities and local districts are able to decide what's best for them.”

— Rory Henry, Superintendent (ky3.com)

What’s next

School officials say they hope local legislators will address the issue and restore local control over school calendars.

The takeaway

This case highlights the tension between state-level policies and the unique needs of local school districts, as well as the importance of giving communities a voice in decisions that impact their students and economic development.