HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2019-009 Resolution supporting local control of school calendars RES - 2019 - 009
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 I I a 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 , the Orange County Board of Commissioners encourages the school
districts to develop and continue to expand their year round programs ; 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 , 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 191h day of February , 2019 .
Pe Rich , CIyair '
Or nge Count Board of Commissioners
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