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HB 287

An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in additional special funds and restricted accounts, establishing the Survivor-Centered, Accessible, Fair and Empowering Housing Trust Fund; and making an interfund transfer.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tim Briggs and 15 co-sponsors

Grants Franklin County Schools a waiver to start as early as the Monday near Aug 19 with good cause (recurring closures), easing makeup-day pressure for 2025-26.

Referred to Housing & Community Development
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 287

Summary — HB 287: School Calendar Flexibility / Franklin / Open Calendar (North Carolina)

Status: Passed First Reading (Mar 6, 2025)
Applies to: Franklin County Schools
Statutory change: Amends G.S. 115C‑84.2(d)
Effective: When law; applies beginning with the 2025–2026 school year

Purpose

To grant Franklin County Schools an exception to the State’s usual calendar start/end restrictions, allowing the local board greater flexibility to set an earlier opening date for students when specific conditions of recurring school closures (“good cause”) are met.

Key provisions

  • Revises G.S. 115C‑84.2(d) (Opening and Closing Dates) as it applies to Franklin County only.
  • Baseline statewide rules retained:
    • Student opening date: no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26 (except year‑round schools).
    • Student closing date: no later than the Friday closest to June 11.
  • Waiver for Franklin County:
    • On a showing of “good cause,” the State Board of Education may waive the August 26 restriction and permit the local board to set an opening date as early as the Monday closest to August 19.
    • “Good cause” is defined as: schools in the county have been closed eight days per year during any four of the last ten years due to severe weather, energy shortages, power failures, or other emergency situations.
  • Local flexibility:
    • Local boards may revise scheduled closing dates if needed to meet minimum instructional days or instructional time.
  • Exemptions:
    • Year‑round schools and schools already operating under a modified calendar dating to 2003–2004 remain governed by existing exceptions.

Who is affected

  • Direct: Franklin County students, families, teachers, school staff, local board of education, and operations (transportation, food service, extracurricular scheduling).
  • Indirect: Childcare providers, local employers, and stakeholders who coordinate around the school calendar.
  • Geographic scope: limited solely to Franklin County (statewide calendars unchanged).

Potential impact

  • Administrative/operational: Enables Franklin County to set an earlier start to reduce pressure from anticipated makeup days tied to recurring closures; may require local adjustments to transportation, staffing, and local scheduling.
  • Fiscal: No direct new state expenditures indicated; local effects are administrative and calendar‑management related and likely minimal. Broader impacts depend on local implementation (e.g., shifting summer schedules, impacts on athletics or testing windows).
  • Compliance: State Board of Education decision required for waiver under the specified “good cause” standard.

Procedural notes / timeline

  • Introduced and referred to Education - K‑12; passed first reading March 6, 2025.
  • The act, if enacted, would take effect for the 2025–2026 school year for Franklin County.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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