Arlington ISD presented a draft 2026–27 academic calendar that preserves required instructional minutes while embedding professional learning days during the school year, district staff told trustees Thursday.

Ginger Cole Leffel, presenting for the academic calendar committee, said the draft balances high-quality student learning, time for teacher professional learning and legal requirements (75,600 instructional minutes and teacher contract days). The draft proposes a Wednesday start in August, two parent-conference days for elementary and secondary, and distributed professional learning days with workdays following those training days.

"The charge around the academic calendar is to find a way to balance the needs for high quality student learning, provide the time and space for that, as well as provide time and space for professional learning for our teachers," Cole Leffel said. The draft shows 171 instructional days overall (elementary 169 instructional days plus two half days; secondary includes four half days), and uses two staff-development waiver days for secondary instruction where needed.

Trustees asked about community and parent feedback collected through a ThoughtExchange, and staff said the top responses emphasized half-day training with classroom preparation time afterward. Trustees also raised concerns about family hardship when professional learning falls on weekdays parents work and about religious holidays; staff said they have consulted with local religious representatives and will continue outreach.

Staff described next steps: share the draft with the public over the winter holiday and return to the board in January with a calendar proposal after collecting more feedback.

No vote was taken Thursday; trustees provided feedback for staff to refine the draft.