Proponents say the August start dates allow more instruction time before students take mandatory state achievement tests and Advanced Placement and college-entrance exams.

WSJ: School in August Gets Low Grades

Holiday said he told the local school district he would stay if he could use its facilities and its teachers to start a business providing English instruction to students in Asia where, according to Holiday, there aren't enough skilled language instructors, particularly in non-urban areas, to teach.

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But the current moves by schools to start earlier don't affect the number of days of instruction, which are generally set in teacher contracts.

WSJ: School in August Gets Low Grades