School Calendar

  Who establishes the school calendar?  A representative group of school employees gather information and develops a draft calendar.  The majority recommendation of this group is forwarded to the local board of education.  The local board may accept or modify the calendar before approval.  Once approved, this calendar is forwarded to the State Department of Education for review and approval.

  When can school start and end?  By state law students can start no earlier than August 26^th and end no later than June 8^th.

  How many days are required for students? Not less than 180 days.

  How many days are required for teachers? Not less than 200 days including instructional days work days and holidays.

  What about faculty senate days?  These are required by law and must be at least two-hours per month and within the school day.

  How do days count when students are released early or do not attend during faculty senate days?  It is required that 180 full days be in the schedule.  Portions of days when students are not in session must be made up through  “bank time”.

  What is bank time?  The required school day is extended by enough minutes to make up for the early releases or non-attendance during the morning of faculty senate days.  This is required by state law in order to insure that the minimum numbers of days are taught.

  Which calendar decisions are decided at the local level?  There are several:

·          Opening days schedule for teachers

·          Dates of faculty senates

·          Closing dates for six-weeks and distribution of report cards

·          Scheduling of parent teacher conferences

·          Vacation schedule for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter

·          End of year schedule

  Which calendar items will be included in the parent survey?  There are several major areas that will be address.  Some of these include:

1. Should faculty senate days be scheduled at the same time each month or scheduled to go along with holidays, end of semester and parent conferences?
   

2.  Should countywide conferences be scheduled (with afternoon, evening, and morning schedules) or should each school set its own schedule (with an evening schedule)?
   

3. Should report cards be distributed early to parents who attend conferences to encourage attendance or should they be sent home prior to parent conferences so they may choose to attend?
   

4. Should all report cards distribution and parent conferences be held within 5 school days after the end of the six weeks?
   

5. Should the length of Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter breaks be shortened in order to have school end earlier in June?
   

6. Should early releases be scheduled at certain holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and End of the Year), which require additional “bank time” added to the school day or should these be a full day, which reduces bank time and the length of the school day?

  Will the parent survey be distributed?  Copies will be made available during March for parents to complete and return. Surveys may also be requested through the Hardy County Board of Education Office