Senate Bill 297 Summary

• Public schools and accredited nonpublic schools cannot begin student instructional days before the fourth Monday in August, effective with the 2013-2014 school year.

• School corporations can request waivers if a school is in the lowest category of school improvement and can demonstrate instructional need for an earlier start date.

• School corporations averaging more than ten canceled school days over the previous five years due to inclement weather can request waivers for an early start date equal to their average number of weather-related cancellations.

• School corporation governing bodies must approve the school year start date at a public meeting with notice and opportunity for public testimony.

• ISTEP applied skills assessments must be administered between 150 and 155 student instructional days after the school year begins.