DARLINGTON, SC – The Darlington County Board of Education approved the 2020-2021 Darlington County School District calendar at its January meeting. The calendar is a culmination of the work by the district’s calendar committee, comprised of parents, students, community members, teachers, administrators, and district staff. The committee sifted through the numerous requirements and requests to shape and refine the final calendar.
As required by law, students cannot begin school before the third Monday in August. Darlington County students will start school on Aug. 17, 2020. Teachers will start earlier on Aug. 10. The law also requires that students attend class for 180 days and teachers have 10 days of professional development.
Under South Carolina law, school districts must designate at least three days as inclement weather make-up days. The school district set aside four days – two in each semester – to accommodate fall and winter inclement weather possibilities as well as block scheduling. For 2020-21, the inclement weather make-up days will be Nov. 2, Dec. 18, Mar. 15, and June 4. If those days are not needed for make-up days, schools will be closed, but district offices will remain open and 240-day employees will work. If they are needed to make up missed days due to inclement weather, those days will be regular school days and attendance will be taken. Parents are asked to not plan a vacation on inclement weather days as there is a good chance those days will turn into school days.
School districts are permitted three short days a year, which count toward the 180-day requirement. Two short days will be at the end of the year to allow school and district staff to wrap up grades and prepare buildings for summer. The third day will be immediately after the end of the third quarter to give teachers time for grade verification.
“The calendar committee did an outstanding job of balancing wants and needs, requirements and requests,” said Audrey Childers, DCSD public information officer. “I commend them for their hard work. Putting together the calendar is not an easy task. It involves a lot of negotiation and compromise. They did a fantastic job.”
2020-2021 DCSD Calendar
JULY 2020
2...... No school: Independence Day
tba...... Registration
AUGUST 2020
10-14...... No school: Professional development
17.......... First day of school for students
SEPTEMBER 2020
7............ No school: Labor Day
17............ Full day of school; Parent conferences 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM, (23rd day of the quarter)
18 ............ No school: Parent conferences (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM), half day for teachers
OCTOBER 2020
20............ End of first quarter
21............ No school: Grade verification and workday
NOVEMBER 2020
2 Inclement weather day (if not needed, schools will be closed & 240-day and higher employees will work)
3 No School: Election Day
25-27............ No school: Thanksgiving
DECEMBER 2020
18............ Inclement weather day (if not needed, schools will be closed and 240-day & higher employees will work)
21-Jan 1............ No school: Christmas/Winter Break
JANUARY 2021
1......... Christmas/Winter Break
4.......... Students return from Christmas/Winter Break
14............ End of 2nd Qtr/1st semester
15............ No school: Grade verification and workday
18............ No school: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
FEBRUARY 2021
18............ Full day of school; Parent conferences 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM;
19............ No school: Parent conferences (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM), half day for teachers
MARCH 2021
15 ............ Inclement weather day (if not needed, schools will be closed & 240-day and higher employees will work)
24............ End of 3rd quarter
25............ Early dismissal after lunch for grade verification
APRIL 2021
5-9............ Spring Break - students & all except 12-month employees
5-7............ Spring Break - 12-month employees
MAY 2021
31............ No school: Memorial Day
JUNE 2021
2 & 3............ Half day, early dismissal before lunch
3............ Last day for students
4............ No school: Professional development/grade verification/Inclement weather day