COLUMBIA - A bill that abolishes the state Education Board's uniform starting date rule and specifies that all school districts can set their own calendar was approved with a voice vote Wednesday by a House committee.

But, said committee Chairman Ronny Townsend, R-Anderson, a compromise that moves the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test date back at least a week is gathering support and is close to being finalized.

The committee vote is the first in a series before the bill would become law. Aspects of the bill could be changed between now and when, if ever, it is approved.

Having the PACT later would encourage school districts to start later, Townsend said. Tourism interests want schools to start later because they have gradually opened earlier to have more time to prepare for the PACT, and almost a month has been lost for vacationers.

Last week, state Education Board Chairman Greg Killian of Myrtle Beach said the second week in May isn't late enough. The third week in May is necessary for schools across the state to be able to start late enough to restore the August vacation season as well as give districts enough time to prepare students for the PACT, he said.

Townsend said it isn't possible to move the PACT to the third week in May right away, but that could be done later. Moving the test date takes a lot of coordination among education officials and the testing company, he said.

The committee vote on the bill that specifies that districts control their calendars was by voice, and there was no opposition.

Members did not discuss the starting date provisions of the bill. Instead, they were more concerned about the provisions that put more restrictions on legislators' powers to excuse school days for weather or other events.

Legislators routinely pass local bills excusing districts from the 180-day minimum for snow closings, for example, but that practice has run into more opposition in recent years.

Some legislators say students should be required to make up the lost days, and in some cases lawmakers have passed the bills over the objections of local school boards.

"Local politics are always the most sensitive," Townsend told the committee. That's why the bill does not put an end to the practice but asks legislators not to act unless asked to do so by a vote of the local school board.

The bill requires school districts to build three makeup days into their calendar. Those should be used up before the district asks to excuse days, Townsend said.

Districts get more flexibility on makeup days with the bill, which allows them to have class on Saturdays, which is currently forbidden, or to have longer days.