Minnesota education commissioner Alice Seagren has approved a plan that will let 25 school districts inSouthwestern Minnesota start the next academic year on Aug. 23.The districts in our area that will start school Aug. 23 are:Comfrey, Jackson County Central, Marshall,Mountain Lake, Redwood Area,Sleepy Eye, Springfield, Windom and Worthington.State law currently forbids starting school before labor day,But the districts say the early start could help improve testScores.Some critics say the move could prevent students in 4-h fromPresenting at the state fair. But participating superintendents sayThey'll work to still give students the state fair experience.