NC H389

Establishes a School Calendar Flexibility Pilot Program allowing local school administrative units in 20 specified counties to set their own school opening and closing dates, with opening no earlier than the Monday closest to August 10 and closing no later than the Friday closest to June 11.

Participating school units must participate for three consecutive school years beginning in either 2018-2019 or 2019-2020 school years, with the State Board providing a list of participants to the Department of Commerce by February 1, 2018.

Requires the Department of Public Instruction to collect annual data on actual opening and closing dates, impacts on student achievement and summer internships, and other relevant information for each participating unit.

Directs the Department of Commerce to study the economic effects of the program on the travel and tourism industry across all 100 counties.

Requires the State Board and Department of Commerce to submit separate annual reports by November 15 to the School of Government at UNC Chapel Hill, with recommendations on program continuation, expansion, and ongoing calendar flexibility for specific districts.