Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: February 19, 2019 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-b <br /> SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting Local Control of School Calendars <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Bonnie Hammersley, 245-2300 <br /> 1) January 14, 2019 Orange County <br /> Schools Board of Education <br /> Resolution Supporting Local Control <br /> of School Calendars <br /> 2) January 24, 2019 Chapel Hill <br /> Carrboro City Schools Board of <br /> Education Resolution Supporting <br /> Local Control of School Calenda <br /> 3) Draft Resolution Supporting Local <br /> Control of School Calendars <br /> PURPOSE: To consider a resolution expressing support for local boards of education and the <br /> restoration of local control of school calendars. <br /> BACKGROUND: Until 2003, local boards of education in North Carolina established calendars <br /> for their respective school years. In 2004 the North Carolina General Assembly seized control <br /> of setting school calendars and imposed a one-size-fits-all mandate on how school calendars <br /> are to be set. It was stated at the time that the goal was to provide uniformity across the state <br /> as well as enhance North Carolina's tourism business. <br /> The current one-size-fits-all school calendar start date is no earlier than the Monday closest to <br /> August 26 and the end date is no later than the Friday closest to June 11. This means high <br /> schools do not complete the first semester until mid to late January, and requires high school <br /> students to take first semester exams after the winter break, which negatively impacts test <br /> scores. <br /> The parameters of the calendar also makes it nearly impossible for high school students or <br /> recent winter graduates to take courses at a nearby community college or university during the <br /> second semester, with the second semester for high schools starting two to three weeks later <br /> than community colleges and universities. <br /> The current calendar structure also results in longer summers, contributing to more "summer <br /> learning loss" for students, which has a disproportionate impact on low-income children, and <br /> negatively impact child nutrition, as low-income children who have access to regular meals at <br /> school through the free and reduced priced meal program may not have access to regular <br /> meals at home. <br />