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Waivers for extra 5 school days unlikely next year

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Comments (6)

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

(Updated 4:24 pm)

By Emery P. Dalesio
Associated Press

RALEIGH (AP) — The academic year for North Carolina's public school students is set to get five days longer next year.

Members of the state Board of Education said Wednesday a new state law taking away teacher training time and replacing it with five more classroom days should take effect with the new school year in August.

The state school board is scheduled to vote Thursday on a recommendation to reject all requests to delay expanding the current 180-day year to 185.

Legislators saw the law as a way to improve standardized test scores while preserving a state-mandated 10-week summer vacation.

The extended school calendar has generated complaints from school districts statewide, which despite state spending cuts will have to pay for five extra days of school bus fuel, classroom heat and electricity, and other costs.

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File photo (News & Record)

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Mick

November 30, 2011 - 4:27 pm EST

Yup. 5 extra days. That oughtta do it.

boys1713

November 30, 2011 - 4:55 pm EST

5 days will not make a difference in test scores, but it will significantly increase $$ for already strapped school systems. The state is expecting school systems to continue to provide services while cutting back funding on all fronts. Where is the logic in this?

rooster8786

November 30, 2011 - 5:13 pm EST

5 more days to teach the test, instead of the subject, so the test scores look better and the administrators keep their jobs.

Shess

November 30, 2011 - 9:09 pm EST

5 more days of lesson planning and no pay raise in 4 + years. More work less money!

cheermom

December 1, 2011 - 12:16 am EST

Why do they have to have a 10 week summer break? Year round school sounds like the smart way to go.

GCS Parent

December 1, 2011 - 10:47 pm EST

This is a useless idea. The days after the EOGs are already a waste of time. As it is, they do not move the test dates to allow for make up snow days. 5 more days will just be more time for the kids to sit around and do nothing after the tests are over.