Early Returns

Columbia, S.C. — Summer break is already over for many South Carolina students as the new school year gets an early start. By the end of this week, six South Carolina school districts will have recommenced classroom instruction, and another dozen will follow suit before the end of the month. This comes despite state legislation designating the third Monday in August as the earliest permissible starting date for the school year; this year, it falls on August 19.

Flexibility in Scheduling

“Yeah, it was a little bit shocking to us to hear how early some of them are going back,” admitted Sherry East, President of the South Carolina Education Association. Instead of adhering to the aforementioned state law, these districts are working on a “year-round modified school calendar.” However, this doesn’t equate to year-round schooling; rather, it provides greater flexibility in terms of when the school year can commence.

Compliance with Legal Obligation

Adopting such a varied schedule allows schools to start their academic calendar before August 19, but they are still required to meet their legal obligation of providing 180 days of teaching. This year, 71 districts have adopted this type of schedule, a significant increase from the 61 districts last year and just 21 the year before.

Assessing the Benefits

East conveyed that the effect of this trend is yet unclear and warrants closer observation. “We’re kind of watching to see,” she said. “We’re hearing a lot of complaints right now because it shortens your summer. But next year, you’ll make up for it, you’ll get out earlier.” Some teachers from districts adopting this calendar appreciate the additional breaks throughout the year. However, concerns arise regarding the lack of uniformity across state lines and the challenges this could pose for late-summer movers.

Implication for Families on the Move

“Let’s say you lived in Myrtle Beach and you decided to move to Aiken. Your child’s already missed three weeks of school, so you’re really putting a student behind if they moved around in our state to one of these districts that started early,” East pointed out.

Revisiting the Legislation

With the widespread adoption of the modified calendar this year, questions arise about the relevance of the existing state law stipulating the mandatory start date. Should it be deemed obsolete? Should lawmakers reconsider whether this requirement remains necessary? As classrooms reopen earlier than usual across South Carolina, these are the questions at the forefront of the education discourse.
The developments over the coming academic year may shape not only the experiences of our students but also potentially the future of schooling within the state.