Amends GS 115C-84.2(d) as title indicates. Requires Winston-Salem/Forsyth, Stokes, and Davidson County Schools to open no later than August 11 (currently, prohibited from opening earlier than the Monday closest to August 26), excluding year-round schools. Deletes the provisions of subsection (d) concerning waiver of the opening date requirements upon a showing of good cause. Amends GS 115C-174.12 to allow local boards of education that have implemented a school calendar that ends the fall semester before December 31 to administer assessments before the end of that semester. Applies beginning with the 2025-26 school year.