MADISON COUNTY — The 2014-2015 calendar for Madison County Schools has been retrofit to resemble years before the Alabama State Legislature mandated the start/end times for public schools.

(CONTRIBUTED)

In 2012, legislators passed a bill defining the school year’s length, with the start date no earlier than two weeks before Labor Day and end date before Memorial Day. Proponents claimed the shortened school year calendar would boost Alabama tourism revenue. The law will not extend past the 2013-2014 school year.

August 5, 2014 will be the first day of classes for students. School opening will bepreceded by teacher workdays and staff development days on July 30-31 and Aug. 1 and 4.

Schools will be closed for Madison County students and teachers to observe holidays on Labor Day, Sept. 1, 2014; Veterans Day, Nov. 11; Thanksgiving, Nov. 26-28; Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 19, 2015; and Presidents Day, Feb. 16.

Because of the extended length of the school year, Madison County Schools will again have a Fall Break on Oct. 6-10, 2014. Spring Break will be held on March 23-27, 2015.

First semester will end on Dec. 18, giving students more time for Winter Break from Dec. 19, 2014 through Jan. 5, 2015. During this time, teachers will have workdays on Dec. 19 and Jan. 2.

Graduation dates have not been determined for May 2015. The last school day for students will be May 21. Teachers will report for a workday on May 22.

Grading periods for the 2014-2015 school year will run from Aug. 4 through Oct. 3, 2014; Oct. 13 through Dec. 18, 2014; Jan. 6 through March 13, 2015; and March 16 through May 21, 2015.

Dr. David Copeland is superintendent of Madison County Schools.

For more information, call 256-852-2557 or visit madison.k12.al.us 2015.