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CPS proposes two-year academic calendar; board debates winter-break timing and college alignment
Summary
District staff proposed a two-year 2026–28 academic calendar prioritizing consistent spring breaks and earlier school starts; board members asked about effects on high school semester timing, religious holidays and alignment with City Colleges schedules.
Nikki Milberg, CPS chief of teaching and learning, presented a recommended two-year academic calendar for school years 2026–27 and 2027–28 at the Jan. 14 agenda review committee. The proposal would set school-year start dates two weeks before Labor Day (Aug. 24 for 2027), provide 176 days of student attendance, 12 professional development days, and consistent spring breaks.
Milberg said the calendar attempts to “maximize student learning at the start of the school year” and align schedules with community-college calendars to facilitate dual-enrollment opportunities. She told the board the district received more than 14,000 survey responses, with 63% of respondents supporting a two-year calendar and 47% favoring a start date two weeks before Labor Day.
Board members raised concerns about the timing of semester exams and student mental-health breaks if semester 1 ends after winter break rather than before it. A board member noted that starting earlier could allow semester 1 to end before winter break but would shorten summer for families and staff. Milberg said staff would provide additional analysis on implications for summer programs, teacher return dates and Carnegie credit hour requirements.
The proposed calendar places a professional development day on Good Friday to align with staff religious leave practices; Milberg said the district would provide follow-up data on staff absences associated with religious observance. Adoption of the calendar is scheduled for the Jan. 29 regular board meeting.
