CPS proposes two small changes to 2025–26 academic calendar to align with religious holiday policy and local elections
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Summary
The Office of Teaching and Learning asked the board to amend the 2025–26 academic calendar to make April 3, 2026 (Good Friday) a nonattendance professional development day and to shift elementary report‑card conferences and a professional development day in March 2026 to avoid conflict with local primaries and LSC elections.
Chicago Public Schools staff told the board they will recommend two limited amendments to the previously approved 2025–26 academic calendar at the May 29 meeting.
What was proposed: Nicole Milberg, chief of teaching and learning, described two changes. First, the district proposes to change a professional development nonattendance day for students from April 24 to April 3, 2026; April 3 is Good Friday and the change follows a recently adopted religious holiday policy. “Change the professional development day, which is a non attendance day for students from April 24 to 04/03/2026. April 3 is Good Friday and would be a non attendance day for students,” Milberg said. Second, to avoid overlap with local primary elections and Local School Council (LSC) work, the district would move elementary school report‑card conferences from March 17 to March 18, 2026, and shift a teacher professional development day from March 16 to March 17 so elementary and high school schedules align.
Why staff proposed the changes: Milberg said the moves reflect survey feedback collected during the calendar development process and operational needs tied to school buildings serving as polling locations. She noted that in the 2023 development process more than 10,000 stakeholders responded to the calendar survey and that school leaders, families and staff had expressed a preference for two‑year calendars for planning stability. She also said the district will provide data on parent participation rates if board members request it.
Board response: Members asked about the effect of consolidating conference days for families with children in both elementary and high school. Milberg said staff do not have conference attendance data immediately available but will provide it if requested.
Next steps: Staff asked the board to place the calendar amendment on the May 29 action agenda for approval.
Ending: The requested changes are limited in scope and framed as operational adjustments meant to reflect religious accommodations and election logistics rather than a wholesale calendar redesign.
