The Chicago Board of Education has delayed approval of the proposed school calendars for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years. The decision comes after board members raised concerns about the timing of end-of-semester exams for high school students, which are currently scheduled to take place after winter break.
Board member Anusha Thotakura highlighted student mental health as a primary concern during a recent meeting. “The No. 1 concern I hear from students is about mental health, and having a break as an opportunity for resetting, recovering, and spending time with their families is really important,” Thotakura said. “If you have testing for second quarter after winter break, students won’t have that opportunity to reset, relax, and come into the new year energized.”
District officials explained that ending the semester before winter break would require starting the school year earlier than usual. They agreed to conduct a follow-up survey among students, parents, and staff to collect more feedback on possible changes to the calendar. The deadline for completing this survey was Tuesday at noon.
A statement from the school board office noted: “Given how close the survey deadline was to the Thursday Board meeting, it is not on the agenda for January 29th to account for the District to have a reasonable period to process results, and then for the Board to consider those results before casting a vote.”
The original proposal called for classes in 2026-27 to begin on August 24 and end on June 11. In past years, parents have asked district leaders to release school calendars earlier so families can plan ahead.
Surveys conducted in fall received over 14,000 responses from students, parents, and employees. Most respondents preferred having finalized calendars two years in advance and consistent summer breaks each year. Only a small portion—10%—supported starting classes more than two weeks before Labor Day.
Nicole Milberg, chief of teaching and learning at CPS and a parent herself within the district, told board members that ending first semester before winter break had been possible this year due to an early Labor Day date combined with an uneven split between semesters. However, with Labor Day falling later in upcoming years, finishing exams before winter recess would mean beginning school much earlier in August.
Milberg stated: “We do absolutely know and understand the challenges we are presenting,” adding that there is no perfect calendar solution.
Some board members argued that concluding first semester before winter break could benefit seniors applying to college by allowing grades to be sent earlier. It would also align CPS’s schedule with City Colleges of Chicago for students enrolled in dual credit courses.
On academic retention after long breaks, board member Ellen Rosenfeld commented: “Quite frankly, the retention they might have after two weeks of break is not the same.”
Thotakura requested that future surveys ask specifically whether stakeholders would accept an earlier start if it allowed semester exams before winter recess. “I don’t think that 10% reflects how many people would be happy to cut their summer a little short if that means the second quarter can end before break,” she said.
Mila Koumpilova is Chalkbeat Chicago’s senior reporter covering Chicago Public Schools.
