Agenda 4-b - Resolution Supporting Local Control of School Calendars

Browse Search

ORO Cr 0 Est.1909 S CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LOCAL CONTROL OF SCHOOL CALENDARS WHEREAS,the North Carolina General Statutes give local boards of education powers of supervision and control of local school systems; and WHEREAS, local control over establishing school calendars is an integral component of school system supervision and administrative powers with which local boards of education have been vested; and WHEREAS, in 2004 the North Carolina General Assembly seized control of setting school calendars and imposed a one-size-fits-all mandate on how school calendars are to be set; and WHEREAS,the current one-size-fits-all school calendar start date is no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26 and the end date is no later than the Friday closest to June 11; and WHEREAS,the State mandated late August start date means high schools do not complete the first semester until mid-to late-January; and WHEREAS,the current law essentially requires high school students to take first semester exams after the winter break,which negatively impacts test scores, according to students and educators; and WHEREAS,the second semester for high schools starts two to three weeks later than community colleges and universities; and WHEREAS, superintendents report that the calendar misalignment makes it nearly impossible for high school students or recent winter graduates to take courses at a nearby community college or university during the second semester; and WHEREAS, exams for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes are given on the same day nationwide, and the current calendar law shortens the amount of time North Carolina's students have to learn the material before test day; and WHEREAS, it is well-documented through multiple studies that children will experience a phenomenon known as summer learning loss,which has a disproportionate impact on low-income children; and