RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Some folks can’t get enough of summer. Others see it as a problem that needs fixing.
For more than a dozen years, North Carolina has mandated the beginning and end of summer vacation for public schools. The law was designed to support tourism at the state’s beaches and mountain getaways, and appease parents who were unhappy as some districts kept moving up the first day of school.
But as studies show flexible school calendars could improve student performance, the law faces its strongest challenge yet. Close to 60 bills have been filed in the General Assembly this year that would exempt local districts, move up the first day of school, or do away with state mandates altogether.
“We know that summer learning loss is one of the biggest issues,” said Leanne Winner with the North Carolina School Boards Association. “The easiest way to deal with that would be to not have as long as break – you wouldn’t have as much loss.”
Lining up in favor of a longer summer are the same associations representing hotels, restaurants and real estate agents that joined many parents in supporting the original 2004 law. They say a traditional summer break helps schools, with tourism generating almost $1.8 billion in revenues in 2015, according to the state’s economic development organization.