INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — 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. 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.

Posted 1/28/2010