At our September 22nd meeting, the Plano ISD Council of PTAs adopted an advocacy project to support local control of the school calendar. The current statute that mandates a uniform school start date should be repealed, or at a minimum, the waiver process should be reinstituted. A uniform start date is not required by federal guidelines and No Child Left Behind.
The vast majority of all U.S. public school systems determine their school calendars locally.
Student academic and instructional concerns and local community needs should drive all education policy decisions. This issue is being driven by the tourism and hospitality industries across the nation. It places tourism and summer camp dollars ahead of academic issues.
The leaders and faculty of our local school systems have embraced and are responsible for the high-stakes accountability systems created by the state and federal governments. Members of the local boards of education, as the duly chosen representatives of the residents of local communities, are uniquely qualified to know the needs of their local communities. There should also be established processes for involving parents, school staff and residents of our communities in the development of the school calendar that works best toward addressing their communities' concerns and enables their students to achieve the highest academic success possible.
Be on the lookout for upcoming information and updates regarding this advocacy project. The next session of the TexasLegislature will begin in January 2011.
If you would like to be part of a committee for the advancement of this project, please contact Gretchen Abner at legislative@planopta.org.
Important Dates:
Constitutional Amendment Election is Nov. 3, 2009
Last Day to Register to Vote in the November 3rd Constitutional Election is Oct. 5, 2009
Early Voting: October 19th - 30th
What is on the Ballot? http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/whatisontheballot.shtml