THEIR VIEW

Barring an unexpected political bomb, the South Carolina General Assembly will mandate that local boards of education refrain from opening schools for the fall semester until the third week in August.

If the South Carolina Senate joins the House in passing the bill, and if Gov. Mark Sanford signs it, the state's school boards will lose a little more of their remaining autonomy from state government.

But contrary to popular perception, a statewide uniform school-start date would not detract from the quality of public education.

School districts would still be required to provide students at least 180 days of instruction per year - more, if local boards prefer. Passage would keep schools open longer on the back end of the school year.

Passage would also require South Carolina students to complete the fall semester after Christmas - which some students and teachers will hate. Early August school starts allow schools to squeeze in the fall semester before the Christmas holidays.

But beyond those minor disadvantages, the bill has potentially powerful economic and educational benefits. ...

This legislation, in short, should be good for South Carolina.

A few years from now, we'll have trouble remembering why it was so controversial that four years were required to get it

passed.

The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News School start date law will have benefits