Education

CPS Unveils Calendar Proposals for 2026-27 and 2027-28 School Years

Chicago Public Schools students will return to their classrooms to kick off the 2026-27 academic year on Aug. 24, according to the district’s newly proposed annual calendar.

The Board of Education is set to vote this month on the calendar proposals, which include 176 student attendance days for both the 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years.

With the current academic year set to end June 4, 2026, students would have a slightly extended break before they return to school this coming fall.

(Chicago Public Schools)

According to CPS, the proposals were developed with “extensive input from school staff, parents, students, labor partners and community members.”

Beyond the 176 attendance days, both upcoming calendars include four teacher institute days, four school improvement days, two parent-teacher conference days and four professional development days.

For the 2026-27 academic year, school will be closed from Dec. 21 through Jan. 1, 2027, for winter vacation, and from March 22 through March 26 for spring vacation. Students would also get a week off for Thanksgiving and no classes will be held Nov. 3 in observance of the upcoming elections.

High school graduation ceremonies would begin as early as May 28, 2027, while elementary graduation ceremonies would be held no sooner than June 7, 2027.

The 2027-28 academic year is scheduled to begin Aug. 23, 2027, and run until June 9, 2028.

The board is expected to discuss these proposals at its agenda review committee meeting Wednesday before voting to approve them at their regular meeting later this month.

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