HISD Seeks Input From Families and Staff on 2024-2025 School Calendar Options

The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is asking HISD families, staff, and other interested individuals to share their thoughts on proposed academic calendars for the upcoming (2024-2025) school year. 

The HISD School Board recently approved the District of Innovation plan. A key component of the plan is a longer academic year and more time in school for students. 

The District announced in December its process for gathering feedback on the proposed calendar options. In mid January, certain HISD staff members and stakeholder groups—including the Teacher Advisory Committee, all principals, the District Advisory Committee, and leaders from all four geographic divisions in the District—had the opportunity to provide input on a few initial calendar options. 

Incorporating feedback from the groups and individuals mentioned above, HISD prepared two draft calendars and is now in the second phase of gathering feedback. It welcomes comments from all staff and families. HISD will take that input into account and then submit a recommended calendar to the School Board for consideration on February 8. 

Please click here to view both calendars and complete a short survey to share feedback. The survey will be open until 5 p.m. on Friday, January 26^th.

For quick reference, HISD has outlined below key points about the calendar options. 

The following are ways the calendars are the same:  

• They both increase the number of instructional days from 172 to 180.
• They both move the start of the school year for students from the fourth Monday in August to the week of August 12^th.  
• They both more evenly distribute staff professional development days throughout the academic year. 
• They both provide District holidays, breaks throughout the year, and have an extra week of instruction before exams in the spring. 

The following are ways the calendars are different: 

• Calendar A has the first day of school as Monday, August 12^th and Calendar B has the first day of school as Wednesday, August 14^th.
• Calendar A includes a staff professional development day on January 6^th with students returning to school from winter recess on January 7^th, and Calendar B includes a Staff professional development day on January 3^rd, with students returning to school from winter recess on January 6^th.  
• Calendar A includes staff professional development days on both April 11^th and May 2^nd, while Calendar B only includes a staff professional development day on April 25^th.
• Calendar A has the last day for students as June 4^th and Calendar B has the last day for students as June 6^th.