School Calendar Pilot Program

SB 202, Section 7.40 SCHOOL CALENDAR PILOT PROGRAM. A special provision in the state budget bill which applies to Wilkes County only.

“The State Board of Education shall establish a school calendar pilot program in the Wilkes County Schools. The purpose of the pilot program is to determine whether and to what extent a local school administrative unit can save money during this extreme fiscal crisis by consolidating the school calendar.

Notwithstanding G.S. 115C-84.2(a)(1), the school calendar for the 2009-2010 calendar year for the Wilkes County Schools shall include a minimum of 180 days or 1,000 hours of instruction covering at least nine calendar months.

Notwithstanding G.S. 115C-84.2(d), the opening date for students shall not be before August 24. If the Wilkes County Board of Education adds instructional hours to previously scheduled days under this section, the local school administrative unit is deemed to have a minimum of 180 days of instruction and teachers employed for a 10-month term are deemed to have been employed for the days being made up and shall be compensated as if they had worked the days being made up.

The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 15, 2010, on the administration of the pilot program, cost-savings realized by it, and its impact on student achievement.”