An overwhelming majority of House lawmakers voted Wednesday to give local school boards authority to decide when the first day of classes should be.

The 94-to-18 vote handed Horry County's delegation and the coastal businesses they represent a setback in their campaign to fashion uniform school calendar guidelines every district would be required to follow.

That outcome prompted Horry lawmakers to unveil a backup strategy that could result in a state budget directive requiring standardized testing take place the third week in May.

The second week in May is the latest tests could administered, said Sandra Lindsay, deputy state superintendent, to ensure they are graded and analyzed before the next school year.

Most tests are given in the first week in May.

Advocates of that seven-day window say it gives all 660,000 students roughly the same number of school days prior to high-stakes standardized testing administered each spring. It would also accommodate coastal businesses that have said they lose income with early-August school starts.

Other districts complained that one county was forcing a policy change that would affect all 85 school systems.

Acting on orders from the 2002 Legislature, the state school board adopted a policy two months ago directing local districts to begin their academic year no earlier than the Monday before Labor Day and no later than the Wednesday after the federal holiday. That policy was supposed to start in August 2004.

House lawmakers decided Wednesday that "local control" powers traditionally delegated to school boards on most matters outweigh the need for a uniform calendar. The measure now heads to the state Senate.

Horry leaders insist S.C. schools that reopen in early-to-mid August hurts tourism and puts children at an academic disadvantage if their classes resume closer to the Labor Day weekend.

Rep. Billy Witherspoon, R-Horry, expressed disappointment with the outcome of Wednesday's vote.

"My read is (that) parents would like to see (school) start later than it does now -- at least the parents I represent," he said.

Witherspoon said pushing the school starting date back to late August "gives everybody two or three weeks open to come to the beach and enjoy themselves."

Rep. Bob Walker, R-Spartanburg, and a chief proponent of letting local boards decide when a school year should start, said, "the General Assembly feels this is a local issue."

"A majority of school boards are elected, and they should have the authority to decide what's best for their communities," he said.

The calendar bill also contains several other new initiatives, including a requirement that every district draw up annual calendars that identify three vacation days that could be used to make up time missed because of inclement weather. Districts also would be allowed to hold classes on Saturdays or extend the school day to compensate for lost time.

State law requires every public school to be open 180 days.