September 24, 2008
School Calendar Survey Results...leave things as they are!

We aren't a bit surprised because it mirrors what we've known for years: the vast majority of North Carolina citizens support the CURRENT, unified school calendar dates and the provisions brought about by the "School Calendar Law" passed in 2004.

On September 3 and 4, 2008, Public Policy Polling of Raleigh conducted a scientific survey of 750 NC adults to determine attitudes towards public school calendar issues. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.6%. The survey was automated and conducted via telephone.

While we didn't commission the survey or pay for it, SOS-NC believes it fairly portrays the issues.

Here are 2 examples of the poll questions and results.

Question
If you had a choice between starting the school year in late July/early August or starting it in late August, which do you think would be the better choice?
>>Late August: 80%
>>Late July/early August: 20%

Question
Supporters of the existing statewide calendar law say that the late August school start date ensures students have enough time for summer jobs, camps, family vacations and other summertime activities. Opponents say that each school district should have local control and that each individual district should be allowed to choose its own start date. Which of these arguments do you find more convincing?
>>Agree w/ supporters of late August start: 66%
>>Agree w/ opponents of late August start: 24%
>>Not sure: 10%

In summary, across ALL demographic subgroups of the state's population taking into account factors of gender, race, age, political party, region or whether respondents do or do not have school-age children, there is overwhelming support for maintaining the current status of a late August, statewide school start. There is little public support for alterations to the current school calendar law.

Be sure to look at the entire poll, found here:

www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/SchoolCalendarMemo1.pdf