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Dear School District of Philadelphia community,
At its meeting last week, the School District of Philadelphia Board of Education voted to approve amendments to the academic calendars for the 2025-2026 & 2026-2027 school years. These amendments are designed to improve annual student attendance and quality of learning by eliminating half days, and to support the continual growth of our school staff by increasing the number of full days designated for professional development. We were able to accomplish these goals while adhering to calendar requirements mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Collective Bargaining Units. Please see below for summaries of the changes.
Amendment summary for the 2025-2026 academic calendar:
The only change for this current school year, is that the school year will end with one full day for students, instead of the originally scheduled two half days.
- The last day of school for students will now be a full day on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
- The last day for staff will be Friday, June 12, 2026.
Amendment summary for the 2026-2027 academic calendar:
- Kindergarten interviews will be held for three consecutive full days (August 24-26, 2026) instead of five half days.
- The first day of school for Kindergarten students will be Thursday, August 27, 2026. The first day of school for all other students will remain the same – Monday, August 24, 2026.
- Each of the three academic terms will end with a full-day report card conference (three full days total), instead of two consecutive half-day conferences. Schools will be closed for students on these days.
- School-based staff will have 12 full days of professional development, instead of seven full days and seven half days. Schools will be closed for students on these days.
- November 25, 2026, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, will be a full day off for students.
- March 29, 2027, Easter Monday, will be a full-day staff-only professional development day. Schools will be closed to students.
- The last day of school for students will now be a full day on Wednesday, June 9, 2027.
- The last day for staff will now be a full day on Thursday, June 10, 2027.
These amendments were developed and approved in alignment with the Board’s Academic Calendar policy. I encourage families to review both calendars on the District’s website at www.philasd.org/calendar. We believe these changes will further support our efforts to accelerate education in Philadelphia and help us become the fastest improving, large urban public school district in the nation.
In partnership,
Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D.
Superintendent
The School District of Philadelphia