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It
has popular support
- 71% of North Carolinians support the current school calendar law with its
late August start date.2
- 80% of North Carolinians says it’s better to start school in late August
than late July or early August. View poll.
It is best for our families
and students
 66% say that ensuring students have enough time for summer jobs, camps, family
vacations and other traditional summertime activities is a convincing reason
to keep the current calendar law, compared to the just 24% who are more convinced
by “local control” arguments.- It ensures that students and teachers
have adequate opportunities during the summer months to hold down much-needed
jobs.Teachers also need a uniform school calendar in order to take educational
courses that are offered throughout the state.
- It gives families a chance to “reconnect” and
spend quality time with extended family members who live in other school districts
or in other states (most of which start school in late August or in September).
- Many
families prefer vacationing in August. The current law makes sure they can do
this.
- Helps families plan reunions and other events when members are in separate
school districts.
- Students aren’t forced to go to school during the hottest
time of the year (68% in the poll say heat should be a factor when setting calendar
policy).
It is beneficial to
our economy
 66% say helping the economy should be a consideration when looking at school
calendar law.- Allowing schools to start in late July or early August could cause
significant loss of jobs and money from tourism in the state.
- Tourism in NC is
made up of many small business; these independent businesses would be hit hardest
by any change in the current calendar law as that would result in significant
decreases in August travel.
- As a fast-growing industry, travel and tourism
brings over $17 billion to our state.3
- Travel and
tourism support nearly 200,000 jobs in NC, providing $4.2 billion in employee
income.
- In 2007, travel and tourism provided state and local government with over
$1.4 billion in tax revenue. Over half of state tax dollars go to funding our
schools.4
2All survey data from Public Policy Polling,
9/3/08 : http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/SchoolCalendarMemo1.pdf
3All economic data from the 2007 Economic Impact of Travel on North
Carolina, Travel Industry Association of America, 2008. http://www.nccommerce.com/NR/rdonlyres/98367200-6534-495C-AEEC-0449FCBA8E39/2597/2007EconomicImpactReport_TIA.pdf
4NC Post-Legislative Budget Summary 2008-2009.
http://www.osbm.state.nc.us/files/pdf_files/PLS08_09.pdf |
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