The calendar was developed in collaboration with the Chicago Teachers Union and reflects input gathered from parents and community members, a news release from the board says.
Beginning in SY14-15, all students will begin classes following Labor Day on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The decision to begin school following Labor Day was supported by stakeholders throughout the city; with approximately 52 percent of the parents voting in favor on the Report Card Pick-Up survey.
Other notable dates from the 2014-2015 calendar include:
Winter Break: Schools will be closed for Winter Break from Dec. 22, 2014, to Jan. 2, 2015.
Spring Break: Schools will be closed for Spring Break from April 6, 2015, to April 10, 2015.
Presidents' Day: Earlier today, the Board of Education voted to instate Presidents' Day (Feb. 16, 2015) as a non-attendance holiday instead of Lincoln's Birthday.
Holidays: In addition to Presidents' Day, schools will be closed to observe: Columbus Day, Oct. 13, 2014; Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, 2014; Thanksgiving, Nov. 26-28, 2014; Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 19, 2015; and Memorial Day, May 25, 2015.
Report Card Pick-Up: In SY14-15, Report Card Pick-Up will occur on separate days for elementary and high schools, allowing families to more easily visit their children's schools. The fall pick-up is scheduled for Nov. 12, 2014, at elementary schools and Nov. 13, 2014, for high schools. The spring pick-up is scheduled for April 15, 2015, at high schools and April 16, 2015, for elementary schools.
Last Day of School: The school year will conclude on June 16, 2015.
In total, the calendar includes 180 student attendance days, including two parent-teacher conference days, and 208 paid calendar days for teachers. Three days of professional development are scheduled prior to the first day of class, allowing teachers to collaborate and plan for the arrival of students. Additional professional development days are scheduled at the end of each quarter, allowing teachers to review student data and plan for the following quarter. Three additional professional development flex days will be used throughout the year based on the discretion of the schools.
