Indiana Senate panel approves school-start-date bill

An Indiana Senate committee has endorsed legislation that would prevent the state’s public schools from starting classes
before Labor Day.

The Senate Education Committee voted 8-1 on Wednesday for the bill sponsored by Republican Sen.
Mike Delph of Carmel and sent it to the full Senate. The original bill also would have prohibited schools from ending after
June 10, but it now allows school boards to override that.

Supporters say it makes sense to start school after
Labor Day because families would have more summer vacation time and it could reduce the cost of cooling classrooms in August.
Tourism and hospitality industry officials say such a law could boost business.

Opponents say decisions about school
calendars should be left to individual school districts.

The bill would not apply to schools that have year-round
classes.