The Duval County School Board has joined 40 other Florida school districts in lobbying state legislators to rescind a new law that requires public school to start no earlier than two weeks before Labor Day.

Joseph Wise

Proponents of the law say early August start times hurt tourism and create hardships for families.

Duval County Superintendent Joseph Wise says the law takes away local control of the schools. Duval County has created two school calendars, one with school starting on Aug. 7, which would be in effect if the law is changed; the other has school starting Aug. 20 to comply with the new law.