The South Carolina Department of Education (Uniform School Start Date Task Force) commissioned this study for the purpose of examining the effects and impacts of early school start dates in SC on the Travel and Tourism economy of the state. The survey was conducted through the University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC), and it was completed in 2003.

Here's what the study found:

• That early school start dates shorten the August vacation season in SC and are associated with decreased August tourism demand, costing the state's largest industry - tourism - millions in lost economic activity and millions in local and state tax revenues.
• Decreased August tourist activity as schools start earlier is not offset by increases in tourist activity in other summer months.
• Starting schools early in August, the hottest month of the year, unnecessarily cost districts in the state higher utility bills compared to a start date after Labor Day.
• A Conservative economic estimate suggests that if August were restored as a summer vacation month in SC through a later public school start date, this would have a $180 million total economic impact on the state and would generate $8.37 million in additional State and Local tax revenues.
  

If you'd like, you can download and read the ENTIRE STUDY REPORT as published by Stephen C. Morse, Ph.D., Professor & Economist, School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC).
Click here to download (PDF, 23 pages, 95kb).