North Carolina’s tourism industry supports letting schools start a week earlier in August in exchange for new penalties for districts that start classes even earlier.

North Carolina’s tourism industry is agreeing to let schools start classes a week earlier in August as part of a plan that also increases penalties for violating the state’s school calendar law.

In a unanimous vote Thursday, Houston ISD’s Board of Managers approved an academic calendar that would start the 2025-26 school year on Aug. 12 and end the year on June 4 for students.

North Carolina’s tourism industry is agreeing to let schools start classes a week earlier in August as part of a plan that also increases penalties for violating the state’s school calendar law.