Childcare costs can rise because of school calendars
Parents in several U.S. states are facing childcare challenges due to the late Labor Day holiday and varying school start dates. Financial experts advise families to plan months in advance to manage the costs and scheduling gaps between summer camps and the start of the school year.
Why it matters
The misalignment between school calendars and childcare availability creates significant financial and logistical burdens for working families.
While plenty of people may celebrate an additional week of summer vacation provided by the latest-possible Labor Day on Sept. 7, it's giving some parents a headache.
In places like New York City, school doesn't start until after the holiday. But many summer camps have finished by then, leaving parents of young children to figure out child care until the school year begins. The first day of school is Sept. 10 for New York City public schools.
Most public schools in the U.S. have their first day before the end of August, according to education data company MDR Education . But many schools, especially in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota, open in September. Minnesota has a state law requiring schools to start after Labor Day, though it has suspended that regulation for the 2026 and 2027 school years due to the holiday's late timing.
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