Lawmakers may allow an earlier school year start.

That would let students complete 1st semester tests before Christmas and not have to face them when they return in January.

Education research has found that testing after a break puts students at a disadvantage and tends to lower their test scores.

State law prevents districts from starting before the 3rd Monday in August.

A Senate Education Committee amendment would let schools start the 2nd Monday in August, said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey who represents Lexington County.

That would also put dual-enrollment students on technical college schedules.

Senators are expected to vote this week on when the start date should be.

The Senate is discussing S419, a bill with many K-12 education reforms.

The Senate approved giving education majors on Life or Palmetto Fellows scholarships additional stipends as do majors in science, math and other shortage areas.

The Senate also:

• Rejected a plan to stop districts from having multiple innovation schools.

• Adopted an amendment to a Teacher’s Bill of Rights that stops individual teachers from suing for enforcement and rejected a similar amendment that would have allowed lawsuits.

• Discussed reducing paperwork for teachers.

In meetings with teachers over the past year, unnecessary paperwork was a major concern, Massey said.

Teachers are required to complete 6-page learning objectives for students.

“My amendment will reduce that burden as much as we can,” he said.