Sioux Falls School Board approves 2026-27 student calendar

The Sioux Falls School District 49-5 Board of Education approved the district's 2026-27 student calendar during its April 14 meeting, ratifying a calendar recommended unanimously by the district calendar committee.

Todd (district staff presenting the calendar) told the board the calendar committee "did vote 25 to 0, to approve this calendar and to move it forward to the school board for ratification." The committee, which the presenter said includes roughly 30 people with parent representatives, bargaining-group representatives and two school board members, recommended an August 27 first student day and a last student day of May 26, 2027.

Key committee recommendations adopted by the board include no student attendance on Native American Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day; a compensatory teacher conference day on April 19 to replace a March date; a March 1 full-day in-service allowing elementary parent-teacher conferences in the afternoon and evening; and an early dismissal on Dec. 23 for the holiday break. The presenter summarized: "August 27 would be that first student day... May 23 is graduation and then the last student day is May 26."

Board members said the multi-stakeholder committee process helps the community plan and the district will post the adopted calendar and supporting board report on the district website after final approval. The board approved the calendar by voice vote during the meeting.

The calendar adoption was part of the consented business agenda and required no additional public hearing. District staff said they plan to publish 2026 and 2027 calendars together later this year so families can plan two years in advance.