Two state legislators say they will introduce a bill in the Legislature that allows local school boards to set start and stop dates for the school year in their systems.
The bill by Republican Sen. Bill Holtzclaw of Madison and GOP Rep. Paul DeMarco of Homewood is being pre-filed this week. It would change a law passed by lawmakers this year that requires the first day of school be no earlier than the Monday two weeks before Labor Day and the last day be no later than the Friday before Memorial Day.
Pushing the start date back was supported by lawmakers who said it would extend the tourism season in Alabama and boost tax collections.
But Holtzclaw said that law took away control of the school calendar from local officials.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.