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School Calendars for 2026-27 and 2027-28 Approved

The District 196 School Board approved the academic calendars for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years during its Regular December Board meeting. The calendar is designed to support student instruction, provide for professional development, and accommodate planning needs for families and staff. The final calendars reflect feedback received since a draft was initially presented for a first reading in November. 

"Our goal is to produce the best school year calendars possible that serve the needs of our students, families, and staff," said Human Resources Director Joel Milteer. "The Calendar Committee centered our work around student learning, family schedules, and the professional development needed for the best student learning."

Key Features of the 2026-27 Calendar | Download Printable Calendar for 2026-27

  • August 31 start for all students: This change removes the two elementary assessment days historically held during the first week, ensuring all students begin instruction together. "Every year, we improve in our systems and processes. Our current assessment processes are more efficient and require less instructional time,” Milteer shared. “Our parent and teacher leaders strongly supported this recommendation," he noted. Schools will offer open houses the week before school begins for students and families to meet teachers and visit classrooms.
  • Fall breaks: The calendar maintains a four-day Labor Day weekend and October MEA break. Additionally, Wednesday, November 25—the day before Thanksgiving—will be a no-school day for all students, designated for teacher planning and grading at the end of the first trimester.
  • Winter Break will be Dec. 23-Jan. 1 with classes resuming on Monday, Jan. 4.
  • Professional learning days are scheduled for Nov. 6 and Feb. 5. The calendar includes fewer Professional Learning Days for staff than the last two years. 
  • Data Analysis days will be held on Friday, Sept. 25, Friday, Jan. 8, and Wednesday, March 10.
  • Spring Break: Consistent with district tradition, Spring Break will be the last week of March (March 29 - April 2, a week later than an earlier draft of the calendar).
  • April no-school day: Friday, April 23, is designated as a no-school day for students and staff.
  • Last day of school: The final day for students will be Wednesday, June 9.

Key Features of the 2027-28 Calendar | Download Printable Calendar for 2027-2028

  • Start date: Aug. 30, start for all students.
  • Fall breaks: A four-day Labor Day weekend and October MEA break, and a no-school day on Wednesday, Nov. 24 (teacher grading day).
  • Winter Break: will begin Dec. 23 - Jan. 2, with classes resuming Jan. 3
  • Professional learning days are scheduled for Nov. 5 and Feb. 4. 
  • Data Analysis days will be held on Friday, Sept. 24, Friday, Jan. 7, and Friday, March 17.
  • Spring Break: The last full week of March.
  • April no-school day: Friday, April 21, is designated as a no-school day for students and staff.
  • Last day of school: Wednesday, June 7.

Comprehensive Development Process

The approved calendars are the result of a rigorous process led by the Calendar Committee, which included district directors, building and department administrators, and representatives from Dakota County United Educators (DCUE). The committee also gathered feedback through surveys from all teachers, as well as from parent and teacher leaders and the superintendent’s cabinet, before presenting it publicly in November. District leaders collected additional feedback from staff and the public over the last 30 days, before delivering a final calendar for adoption.  

The calendar also must comply with state laws, legal holidays, and collective bargaining agreements.

  • MN Statute 120A.41 governs the number of instructional days and hours for the various grade levels. The recommended calendars exceed the number of state-required instructional days and hours.
  • MN Statute 120A.414 governs the number of e-learning days a school district may have during a school year. In District 196, under inclement weather, the first two (2) days are no school days. They are built into or accounted for within the number of instructional days scheduled to ensure we have sufficient instructional time to meet state requirements.

Both calendars prioritize aligning the start of the school year with the beginning of the week, ensuring consistent instructional hours, and addressing the well-being of students and staff through strategic breaks.

For more information and to view the full calendars, please visit the District 196 website.