DOVER, Del. (AP) - The state Senate has narrowly approved a bill requiring that school districts wait until after Labor Day to begin the school year.
The measure cleared the Senate on an 11-to-10 vote Wednesday and now goes to the House.
Supporters of the bill, which follows the majority recommendation of a task force that studied the issue, say it could provide an economic boost, allowing high school students to keep summer jobs longer and extending the summer tourism season into the Labor Day weekend.
The bill maintains the requirement that schools offer 180 days of instruction.
Representatives of school board and school leadership associations oppose the measure, saying school calendar decisions should be made at the local level.
If approved, the change would take effect in the 2017-2018 school year.
