I served in the Iowa Legislature from 1997 - 2008. Though there was a lot of angst as school districts started the year earlier and earlier (including on the first Monday of the Iowa State Fair), the commitment to local control prevented us from taking action.
Two years ago, however, the outcry from parents, the tourism industry, and State Fair supporters led to a vote to establish a school start date of August 23 or later.
There is a bill in THIS year's legislature that would reopen the school start date debate. LISTEN to my take above.