New School Calendar Flexibility Proposal Filed in NC Senate
Bill allows earlier school start date
Imposes penalties for districts that defy state law
Raleigh, N.C. – Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), and Sens. Amy Galey (R-Alamance) and Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) filed a bill to provide additional school calendar flexibility to local school districts and hold school district officials accountable if they defy the school calendar law.
“This balances the desire of some school districts to start the school year earlier while still supporting our local businesses dependent on summer tourism,” Sen. Berger said. “We must take the appropriate steps to hold school districts that break the law accountable.”
Senate Bill 754, “School Calendar Flexibility: A New Alternative,” would give school districts two options for starting the school year. It retains the current school calendar law — starting school no earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and ending no later than the Friday closest to June 11 — and a new option to begin no earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 19 and ending no later than the Friday before the last Monday in May.
Beyond the additional flexibility, the bill would implement new compliance measures and penalties for school districts that still decide to defy the calendar law.
“Finding compromises like this isn’t always easy, but this bill is the culmination of good-faith efforts from stakeholders and legislators,” Sen. Galey said. “With the evolution of the school choice landscape, as well as North Carolina becoming the fifth most popular state for travel and tourism, it’s time to update and adapt our school calendar law.”
The Superintendent of Public Instruction would be required to report and investigate any violations of the law to the State Board of Education. If the local school board is found to be noncompliant, the State Board of Education is required to direct the local board to remedy the violation. If the local board doesn’t address the violation, then its central office funding will be withheld until it becomes compliant.
Additionally, any person who lives or owns a business within the local school district boundary would be able to bring a civil action against the local school board if it defies the school calendar law.
“I’ve heard from school districts across the state that have wanted to adjust their calendar to meet their needs but didn’t want to break the law,” Sen. Lee said. “While our current school calendar law provides adequate flexibility for the vast majority of our districts, it’s appropriate to provide districts another option.”
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