RESTORE SCHOOL CALENDAR EDUC. PURPOSE WAIVER.

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View NCGA Bill Details2013-2014 Session
House Bill 1049 (Public) Filed Wednesday, May 14, 2014
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO RESTORE THE SCHOOL CALENDAR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE WAIVER TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY TO LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION FOR CALENDAR MODIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FOR A REASONABLE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HOUSE STUDY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION INNOVATION.
Intro. by Horn, S. Martin, Lucas, Langdon.

Status: Ref to the Com on Commerce and Job Development, if favorable, Education (House Action) (May 15 2014)
H 1049

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: May 14 2014 - View Summary

    Current law requires local boards of education to set the opening date for public schools (except for year-round schools) no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26, and the closing date no later than the Friday closest to June 11. However, upon a showing of good cause, as defined by statute, the State Board of Education (State Board) is authorized to waive the previously stated opening and closing date requirements and allow local boards to make statutorily specified modifications to the opening and closing dates.

    Amends GS 115C-84.2(d) to also allow the State Board to waive the opening and closing date requirements for public schools for an educational purpose. Defines educational purpose to mean that a local school administrative unit establishes a need to adopt a different calendar for (1) a specific school to accommodate a special program offered generally to the student body of that school, (2) a school that primarily serves a special population of students, or (3) a defined program within a school.

    Authorizes the State Board to grant the educational purpose waiver provided that the State Board finds that the (1) educational purpose is reasonable, (2) the accommodation is necessary to achieve the educational purpose, and (3) the request is not an attempt to circumvent the opening and closing dates set out in this subsection [GS 115C-84.2(d)]. Prohibits using a waiver request for educational purposes to accommodate system-wide class scheduling preferences.

    Effective when the act becomes law and applies beginning with the 2015-16 school year.