House budget-writers dropped their proposal Tuesday that North Carolina public schools be open fewer days next year and reworked a university tuition proposal to temper increases at some campuses.

The draft budget plan for public education released last week would have reduced the school calendar from the required 180 days to 175 in the next school year and to 170 days in 2010-11 in an attempt to save a combined $300 million through mid-2011.

But advocates for the public schools criticized the idea as a large step backward for education. Other panel members agreed, said Rep. Ray Rapp, D-Madison, a co-chairman of the subcommittee.

Given that other countries require more than 200 school days, Rapp said, "we're all resistant to a decrease in the number of hours that children would be in schools."

But the decision doesn't eliminate the possibility that local districts could close schools a few extra days.

The Democrats leading the full Appropriations Committee will consider whether to require teacher furloughs for five days next school year and 10 days in 2010-11 to save money. Rapp said local districts could choose to close school for some of those furlough days, or take away teacher work days instead.

The education and other House budget subcommittees have been ordered to spend more than $2 billion less than the Senate did last month in its budget plan for the fiscal year starting July 1.

The deeper cuts come as state revenue projections have fallen for the next two years since April 15 tax collections were counted. House Democrats haven't gotten behind a way to increase taxes to make up part of the difference.

The education proposal still would eliminate teacher assistants in third grade and increase the average class size in all classrooms by two students to save hundred of millions of dollars. Both could leave thousands of educators without jobs next fall.

"The depths of the problems are only beginning to be realized by some folks," said Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland, another co-chairman with Rapp.

The subcommittee also agreed to replace a proposal to raise annual tuition by $258 for every student in the University of North Carolina system with an alternative that would raise it by 8 percent or $200, whichever is less.

The decision will mean schools with low tuition rates won't see as dramatic an increase, Rapp said. For example, a $258 increase at Elizabeth City State University would have equated to a 16 percent increase on tuition.

The proposal is higher than the average 2.8 percent tuition increase prepared earlier this year by the UNC Board of Governors, said Rob Nelson, the UNC system's vice president for finance.

UNC President Erskine Bowles understands the difficulties facing legislators as they look to balance the state's budget, Nelson said, but he's still trying to protect the university's 16 campuses and their students.

"Our goal is to keep tuition as low as possible," Nelson said.

Once the full House approves a budget proposal, the Senate and House would work out a final compromise and send it to Gov. Beverly Perdue for her signature.