(Columbia-AP) Feb. 13, 2003 - The House has approved a bill to give the state's 85 school districts the power to set their own calendars.

The tourism industry wants schools to begin after Labor Day because families tend not to travel once school has begun.

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

The state Education Board voted in December to give schools a two-week window around Labor Day to start classes beginning in 2004.

posted 11:07am by Chris Rees