School Calendar Flexibility/Guilford/Open Calendar.

HB 321 allows Guilford County Schools to adopt an earlier start date for the 2025-2026 school year, specifically permitting an opening as early as August 19 (instead of the standard August 26) if the district meets "good cause" requirements. This includes having averaged at least eight emergency closure days per year over four of the last ten years due to weather, power issues, or other emergencies. The bill amends existing law to exempt Guilford from standard calendar dates, but only applies to this single school district and requires compliance with minimum instructional day requirements. It does not affect other North Carolina school districts or change general calendar rules.