The 2026-27 District Calendar is now available on our website. We want to share a few details about how and why the calendar was created this year. 

First, we want to be very clear that this start date is not our preference. If we had full local control, we would choose to start school earlier. An earlier start supports better semester balance and provides more flexibility for professional learning and instructional planning. However, Missouri law currently requires a late start date and a minimum number of student attendance days. These laws significantly limit local decision-making and leave districts with very little flexibility when building calendars.

A small group of districts will be meeting with the State Board next week to request a waiver that would allow an earlier start. If that effort is successful, we will review our options and engage in next steps. While approval would be unexpected, we believe it is important to advocate for local control whenever possible.

Until state law changes, our hands are tied. The calendar before you represents the best possible option within current legal and operational constraints. It maintains long-standing district priorities, including a two-week winter break, ending the school year before Memorial Day, and keeping summer learning within the month of June. This structure allows for a clear transition between the regular school year and summer programming and helps maintain balance for students, staff, and district operations.

We recognize that calendar decisions impact the personal lives, planning, and work-life balance of our staff, families, and students. Your feedback matters, and we will continue advocating for flexibility and local decision-making whenever opportunities arise. Thank you to the staff members who worked to make the best of a challenging calendar, and to the staff and parents who have provided feedback along the way. Despite its limiations, we are looking forward to a fantastic 2026-27 academic year!