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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 4-b - Resolution Supporting Local Control of School Calendars 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 19, 2019 Action Agenda Item No. 4-b SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting Local Control of School Calendars DEPARTMENT: County Manager ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Bonnie Hammersley, 245-2300 1) January 14, 2019 Orange County Schools Board of Education Resolution Supporting Local Control of School Calendars 2) January 24, 2019 Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Board of Education Resolution Supporting Local Control of School Calenda 3) Draft Resolution Supporting Local Control of School Calendars PURPOSE: To consider a resolution expressing support for local boards of education and the restoration of local control of school calendars. BACKGROUND: Until 2003, local boards of education in North Carolina established calendars for their respective school years. 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. It was stated at the time that the goal was to provide uniformity across the state as well as enhance North Carolina's tourism business. 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. This means high schools do not complete the first semester until mid to late January, and requires high school students to take first semester exams after the winter break, which negatively impacts test scores. The parameters of the calendar also 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, with the second semester for high schools starting two to three weeks later than community colleges and universities. The current calendar structure also results in longer summers, contributing to more "summer learning loss" for students, which has a disproportionate impact on low-income children, and negatively impact child nutrition, as low-income children who have access to regular meals at school through the free and reduced priced meal program may not have access to regular meals at home. 2 The Orange County Schools Board of Education adopted the resolution provided at Attachment 1 requesting that the Board of Commissioners adopt a resolution in support of the restoration of local control of school calendars. The Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Board of Education adopted the resolution provided at Attachment 2 requesting that the Board of Commissioners adopt a resolution in support of the restoration of local control of school calendars. A draft resolution for BOCC consideration is provided at Attachment 3. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the resolution. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND INEQUITY The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color; religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic status. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider adoption of the draft resolution provided at Attachment 3, and if adopted authorize the Chair to sign the resolution. 3 Orange County 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 4 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 WHEREAS, long summer breaks can also negatively impact child nutrition, as low-income children who have access to regular meals at school through the free and reduced priced meal program may not have access to regular meals at home; and WHEREAS,with little flexibility built in to the calendar, scheduling make-up days is extremely challenging; and WHEREAS,major hurricanes and severe winter snow storms have caused Orange County Schools to miss 17 school days over the past three years; and WHEREAS, Orange County Schools was only able to make up 12 missed days over the past three years WHEREAS, fall sports and band begin August 1, schedules for extracurriculars have not changed to coincide with the State-mandated school calendar; and WHEREAS,local boards of education are best equipped to understand the balancing act of meeting the community's needs and maximizing student success; and WHEREAS,restoring local control of school calendars will allow local boards of education to best meet the calendar preferences of the families,educators, and businesses in our community while allowing for innovative experimental approaches to improve student achievement. THEREFORE,be it resolved that the Orange County Schools Board of Education requests that the Orange County Board of County Commissioners pass a resolution in support of calendar flexibility. Adopted by the Orange County Schools Board of Education this 14th day of January, 2019. C,i Brenda Stephens, Chair Dr. Todd Wirt, Superintendent Board of Education Orange County Schools 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 WHEREAS, long summer breaks can also negatively impact child nutrition, as low-income children who have access to regular meals at school through the free and reduced priced meal program may not have access to regular meals at home; and WHEREAS,with little flexibility built in to the calendar, scheduling make-up days is extremely challenging; and WHEREAS, major hurricanes and severe winter snow storms have caused Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools to miss 16 school days over the past three years; and WHEREAS, fall sports and band begin August 1, schedules for extra-curriculars have not changed to coincide with the State-mandated school calendar; and WHEREAS, local boards of education are best equipped to understand the balancing act of meeting the community's needs and maximizing student success; and WHEREAS,restoring local control of school calendars will allow local boards of education to best meet the calendar needs of the families, educators, and businesses in our community while allowing for innovative experimental approaches to improve student achievement. THEREFORE,be it resolved that the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education requests that the Orange County Board of County Commissioners pass a resolution in support of calendar flexibility. Adopted by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education this 24th day of January, 2019. Margaret Samuels, Chair Dr. Pam Baldwin, Superintendent Board of Education Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools 7 RES-2019-009 DRAFT Attachment 3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 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 WHEREAS, long summer breaks can also negatively impact child nutrition, as low- income children who have access to regular meals at school through the free and reduced priced meal program may not have access to regular meals at home; and 8 WHEREAS, with little flexibility built in to the calendar, scheduling make-up days is extremely challenging; and WHEREAS, major hurricanes and severe winter snow storms have caused Orange County Schools to miss 17 school days over the past three years; and WHEREAS, major hurricanes and severe winter snow storms have caused Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools to miss 16 school days over the past three years; and WHEREAS, fall sports and band begin August 1, schedules for extracurriculars have not changed to coincide with the State-mandated school calendar; and WHEREAS, local boards of education are best equipped to understand the balancing act of meeting the community's needs and maximizing student success; and WHEREAS, restoring local control of school calendars will allow local boards of education to best meet the calendar preferences of the families, educators, and businesses in our community while allowing for innovative experimental approaches to improve student achievement. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners expresses its support for local boards of education and the restoration of local control of school calendars and requests that the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor Roy Cooper adopt and ratify legislation returning school calendar responsibility to local school boards of education. This the 19th day of February, 2019. Penny Rich, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners 2