Some SC school districts starting early despite a state law requirement

YORK COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Several school districts in upstate South Carolina will be back in session by the end of the first week of August, despite a state law requiring districts to wait until the third week of August to begin school.

Back to School 2024: List of start dates across North and South Carolina

York County District One, Chester County, Clover schools ended their summer recess before many other nearby students began shopping for new school supplies.

Schools which adopt a ‘year-round modified calendar’ are exempt from the fall semester start date requirement.

Students in schools on such calendars receive the same 180 days of instructional time as public schools but may have more breaks or end their spring semesters sooner. York County District One schedules intersession weeks and longer breaks in October and February. District leaders say the short breaks give a chance for students who are academically behind to catch up. Some say it’s also becoming a selling point to attract and retain teachers. The South Carolina Department of Education does not provide a definition of nor approve year-round modified calendars.

Education leaders still require schools on a modified schedule to have all statewide assessments completed on the same timeline as others.

More than 70 schools in South Carolina have adopted a modified calendar.

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