A new bill filed by State Sen. Everitt seeks to give local boards of education greater flexibility in setting school start and end dates, according to the North Carolina State Senate.
The bill, filed as SB 103 on Feb. 13 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Make NC School Calendars Great Again.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill aims to provide local boards of education in North Carolina with greater flexibility in adopting school calendars. It modifies the opening and closing date restrictions for public schools, allowing schools to start no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26 and conclude no later than the Friday closest to June 11. However, on showing of good cause—such as a history of school closures due to severe weather or emergencies—they may start as early as the Monday closest to August 19, provided they can accommodate makeup days. Schools with modified or planned modified calendar systems as of the 2003-04 school year are exempt from these dates. The act is effective upon becoming law and will apply beginning with the 2025-26 school year.
Everitt proposed one other bill during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Everitt graduated from Rutgers University in 1997 with a BA and again in 2001 from Columbus School of Law with a JD.
Everitt, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2025 to represent the state’s 18th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Mary Wills Bode.
| Legislative Session | Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Terence Everitt | SB 103 | 02/13/2025 | Make NC School Calendars Great Again. |
| 2025 | Terence Everitt | SB 102 | 02/13/2025 | 18th Senatorial District Local Act-1. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 877 | 05/02/2024 | Greater Access to Fertility Medication. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 763 | 04/24/2024 | 18th Senatorial District Local Act-1. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 658 | 04/06/2023 | Water Safety Act of 2023. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 708 | 04/06/2023 | School Meals for Every Child. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 709 | 04/06/2023 | Returning Citizens Ready to Work. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 713 | 04/06/2023 | Build Safer Communities and Schools Act. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 716 | 04/06/2023 | Caregiver Tax Credit. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 731 | 04/06/2023 | Shine Like Hailey Parade Safety Act. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 584 | 04/04/2023 | Breast Cancer Diagnostic Imaging Reform. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 496 | 04/03/2023 | Increase Safe Use of Firearms. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 497 | 04/03/2023 | Reenact Earned Income Tax Credit. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 421 | 03/29/2023 | State Employees/Paid Parental Leave. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 148 | 02/22/2023 | deViere Disabled Veterans Act. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 149 | 02/22/2023 | Veterans Appreciation Act. |
| 2023 | Mary Wills Bode | SB 153 | 02/22/2023 | 18th Senatorial District Local Act-1. |
