COLUMBIA--The House on Wednesday approved a bill that would give the state's 85 school districts the power to set their own calendars.

The bill passed the House without much debate on a 94-18 vote Wednesday.

The tourism industry wants schools to begin after Labor Day so they can keep student workers and because families tend not to travel once school has begun.

In recent years, schools have been starting earlier to allow time to prepare for the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test. PACT results are used to grade schools' performance.

Last year, a panel of business leaders and educators studied the issue of a uniform start date, as instructed by the Legislature, and the state Education Board voted in December to set a two-week window around Labor Day to start classes beginning in 2004. But some lawmakers say they thought the board would only study the issue, not make a decision.

Requiring all schools to start at roughly the same time also meant all students would get the same amount of preparation for the state's achievement tests.

Paul Krohne, executive director of the South Carolina School Boards Association, applauded Wednesday's House vote.

The measure would allow districts to decide on their own starting and ending dates, as well as holidays, in-service days and professional development days.