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RES - 2019 - 009 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LOCAL CONTROL OF SCHOOL <br /> CALENDARS <br /> WHEREAS , the North Carolina General Statutes give local boards of education powers <br /> of supervision and control of local school systems ; and <br /> WHEREAS , local control over establishing school calendars is an integral component of <br /> school system supervision and administrative powers with which local boards of education have <br /> been vested ; and <br /> WHEREAS , in 2004 the North Carolina General Assembly seized control of setting <br /> school calendars and imposed a one - size - fits- all mandate on how school calendars are to be set ; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS , the current one - size - fits - all school calendar start date is no earlier than the <br /> Monday closest to August 26 and the end date is no later than the Friday closest to June I I a and <br /> WHEREAS , the State mandated late August start date means high schools do not <br /> complete the first semester until mid to late January ; and <br /> WHEREAS , the current law essentially requires high school students to take first <br /> semester exams after the winter break, which negatively impacts test scores , according to <br /> students and educators ; and <br /> WHEREAS , the second semester for high schools starts two to three weeks later than <br /> community colleges and universities ; and <br /> WHEREAS , superintendents report that the calendar misalignment makes it nearly <br /> impossible for high school students or recent winter graduates to take courses at a nearby <br /> community college or university during the second semester ; and <br /> WHEREAS , exams for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes are <br /> given on the same day nationwide , and the current calendar law shortens the amount of time <br /> North Carolina ' s students have to learn the material before test day ; and <br /> WHEREAS , it is well - documented through multiple studies that children will experience <br /> a phenomenon known as summer learning loss , which has a disproportionate impact on low- <br /> income children ; and <br /> WHEREAS , long summer breaks can also negatively impact child nutrition , as low- <br /> income children who have access to regular meals at school through the free and reduced priced <br /> meal program may not have access to regular meals at home ; and <br />