Sanford signs bills on school scheduling

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The action ends more than a year of controversy and negates a December decision by the state Board of Education that would have created a 10-day window around Labor Day for all schools to start, beginning in 2004.

Coastal leaders had pushed for the later school starts, saying early classes cut into the summer tourist season, costing local businesses and the state economy millions of dollars.

But some districts, including many in the Upstate, say an earlier start date allows them to maximize instructional time before the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test and to complete semester exams before the Christmas break.

The law signed by Sanford Wednesday also requires school districts to build three make-up days in their calendars. If a school exceeds its make-up days, it can lengthen the school day by no less than an hour a day until the time is made up. A school can make up days on Saturdays.

If necessary, the local legislative delegation can excuse an additional three snow days.