Law lets school boards set school start dates

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Students in all five Anderson County districts and in Oconee County return to school Aug. 7. Classes in Pickens County start Aug. 11.

Greenville County pushed its first day of school back by two weeks this year to Aug. 25 — the latest start date in the state. The move came in response to parental concerns about school starting too early in August.

House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, said the new law is "all about home rule" and allowing local school boards to make the decisions they think are best for their students.

"In many cases, the best decisions are made at the local level," he said.

Pragna Gandhi, of Greenville, said she prefers Greenville's later start.

"I think early August is too early to start," said Gandhi, who has two children attending Pelham Road Elementary. "I prefer the later start. Ideally, I think it would be nice to start after Labor Day as a lot of states do."

Superintendent Bill Harner said the later start will put Greenville students at a slight disadvantage this year when it comes to taking the PACT test because other students will have more class time before taking the test.

But, he said, that should change next year when Greenville schools go to a traditional schedule which gives students more instructional time than students on block schedules.

Beginning in 2005, the PACT test will be given to students in the second week of May, one week later than when it has been given.

The debate over school starting dates was sparked in spring 2002 when Horry County schools proposed to give the PACT test later than the rest of the state, something the state Department of Education said would cost millions of dollars.

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.

Cindy Landrum covers education and can be reached at 298-4303.