Education
CPS Board Approves Academic Calendars for Next 2 School Years
(WTTW News)
Chicago Public Schools students now know when the next two school years will kick off and conclude after education officials finalized the district’s upcoming academic calendars this week.
The Chicago Board of Education on Thursday approved the 2026-27 and 2027-28 calendars, which CPS leaders say reflect “priorities and needs” identified by district staff, parents, students, labor partners and community members.
“We are keenly aware that these decisions directly impact students’ learning and wellbeing,” interim CPS CEO Macquline King said in a statement. “By listening to families, staff and students, we have designed a calendar that best supports their success in school and beyond.”
CPS calendar for the 2026-27 academic year. (Chicago Public Schools)
CPS classes for K-12 students in the 2026-27 academic year will begin Aug. 24 and end June 11. The following year, they’ll begin Aug. 23 and run through June 9.
Each calendar includes 176 student attendance days as well as four Teacher Institute days, four School Improvement days, two Parent-Teacher Conference days and four Professional Development days.
CPS calendar for the 2027-28 academic year. (Chicago Public Schools)
CPS said it collected more than 36,000 responses through a pair of calendar surveys and found a majority of respondents favored the adoption of a two-year calendar — rather than one year at a time, as has been done in the past — and preferred a start date coming two weeks before Labor Day.
“This calendar connects to the District’s vision and reflects input from a variety of voices, keeping students at the center,” CPS Chief of Teaching and Learning Nicole Milberg said in a statement. “This academic schedule incorporates feedback from the community and accelerates learning for students, provides thoughtful opportunities for professional learning for staff, and meets the needs of all learners.”
