Henrico staff recommends staggered start and added clerical day in draft 2026-27 calendar; proposes minor 2025-26 adjustment

Henrico County Public Schools staff on March 27 presented a draft 2026-27 instructional calendar that would introduce a staggered start for key transition grades, move some division-level professional learning earlier, and add a full in-person clerical day between semesters. The board was asked to review the draft; formal approval of the 2026-27 calendar was not requested at the work session. Staff also proposed a minor adjustment to the approved 2025-26 calendar to shift an election-day professional learning day to a flexible clerical day on Sept. 22, 2025.

"Our HCPS calendar committee began meeting last fall to initiate conversations on the 2627 calendar, shape the community survey, and develop recommendations," Miss Coy told the board. She said the committee used teacher and student advisory committees and a community survey to build options. "Overall, we see about 65% support for the model," she said of the staggered start proposal.

Under the proposal, pre-K and kindergarten students would start on Monday or Tuesday in two cohorts (roughly half the class each day) to allow acclimation in smaller groups; grades 1–5 would begin together on Monday. Sixth- and ninth-grade students would start on Monday with other secondary students starting on Tuesday so transitional grades have a dedicated orientation day. The stated goals are improved transition supports, stronger belonging and an opportunity for secondary students to walk schedules on their orientation day. Transportation would run normal routes on staggered orientation days, staff said.

To address teacher feedback asking for more clerical time and earlier professional learning, the committee developed three options for a full clerical day and recommended a day between semesters (proposed date: Jan. 25) that would replace an end-of-semester half day. For the 2025-26 calendar staff proposed converting the election-day professional learning day into a flexible clerical day for staff and adding a professional learning day on Sept. 22 so more division-level PL occurs earlier in the school year.

Board members asked about seat-time impacts, transportation logistics and implementation details. Miss Coy and staff said the division counts by instructional hours, not days, and that the draft calendars remain within state-required hours. Staff also promised further community outreach and a final recommendation at the May meeting before board action on the 2026-27 calendar.

Key dates and details from the presentation - Community survey support: roughly 65% for staggered start as described. - Proposed clerical day for 2026-27: Jan. 25 (replace an end-of-semester half day). - 2025-26 proposed adjustment: convert election-day PL to a flexible clerical day and add Sept. 22 as an additional student holiday/professional learning arrangement. - Instructional time: division measures by hours; draft remains within state-required instructional-time parameters, staff said.

Staff will continue to solicit feedback on the 2026-27 draft and return with a final recommendation to the board in May; the 2025-26 minor adjustment was presented for board consideration at the March 27 session.