RICHMOND (AP) -- A Senate panel Thursday said no to a bill that would let Virginia schools start before Labor Day.
The proposal is a legislative priority in Gov. Bob McDonnell's public education improvement package.
The Senate Education and Health Committee killed the bill Thursday on a 9-6 vote after lobbyists for vacation resorts, amusement parks, beach towns and historical sites along with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce spoke against it.
The tourist attractions augment their staffs with the inexpensive labor of school students during summer vacation season through Labor Day.
Educators, school superintendents and McDonnell's Education Secretary, Laura Fornash, all said the late start most Virginia pupils get puts them at a disadvantage in advanced placement and international baccalaureate testing.
A House version of the so called "Kings Dominion Law" is still alive and will be discussed this evening.
If passed, the changes wouldn't take place until the 2013-2014 school year. Supporters say students would have more time to prepare for the Spring SP and SOL tests.
“Any school division will have the opportunity to say they will start earlier. It doesn't lengthen the school year, it just slides things forward. We wouldn't do it for next year,” Virginia Beach Superintendent Jim Merrill told 13News.
Nearly 80 school divisions already start earlier because of weather-related waivers.
“We would live to level the playing field for our students,” Merrill added.
Virginia Beach Schools created a Webpage with information about its support for the proposal.
AP-WF-01-26-12 1626GMT
