A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY for a two‑year period TO certain local boards of education IN ADOPTING the SCHOOL CALENDAR.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  Notwithstanding G.S. 115C‑84.2(d), Harnett County Schools, Johnston County Schools, and Lee County Schools shall determine the dates of opening and closing the public schools in their respective school systems in accordance with G.S. 115C‑84.2(a)(1). Except for year‑round schools, the opening date for students shall be no earlier than the Monday closest to August 19.
The required opening and closing dates under this subsection shall not apply to any school that Harnett County Schools, Johnston County Schools, or Lee County Schools designated as having a modified calendar for the 2003‑2004 school year or to any school that was part of a planned program in the 2003‑2004 school year for a system of modified calendar schools, so long as the school operates under a modified calendar.
SECTION 1.(b)  This section applies for the 2019‑2020 school year and the 2020‑2021 school year only.
SECTION 2.  By October 1, 2021, Harnett County Schools, Johnston County Schools, and Lee County Schools shall report to the Department of Public Instruction on the implementation of this act, including any effects on student achievement and any recommendations on the modification, continuation, and potential expansion of the calendar flexibility provided in this act. The Department of Public Instruction shall evaluate these reports and provide an aggregated report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by November 15, 2021.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.