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School Start Date Act of 2004
 
SYNOPSIS:        
Existing state law does not provide a statewide school start window for 
public elementary and secondary schools.
         
This bill would specify a date ranging from August 18 to August 21, 
varying from year to year, as the earliest date that academic instruction 
may begin in a public elementary or secondary school to afford students 
attending schools identified for improvement, corrective action, or 
restructuring pursuant to federal guidelines with an opportunity to 
transfer to another school or to take advantage of other supplementary 
services, and to allow adequate time to comply with the reporting 
provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
         
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT
Relating to public elementary and secondary education; to specify the 
annual date upon which academic instruction may begin.
         
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the School 
Start Date Act of 2004. (b) Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, no 
elementary or secondary school under the jurisdiction of the State Board 
of Education may begin a new academic year of instruction for students 
before August 21. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if August 21 falls on a 
Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, academic instruction for students may 
begin on the Wednesday immediately preceding August 21.
         
Section 2. This act shall become effective immediately following its 
passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
         
                  
         

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