Pierce County students will get a week-long fall break, but graduation and summer vacation will begin a week later during the 2026-2027 school year.
The Pierce County Board of Education approved its new school calendar at its regular monthly meeting Monday night.
At the board’s work session Thursday morning, School Superintendent Dara Bennett told board members four proposals were presented to faculty and staff to vote on — including one that was student generated. One of the faculty produced versions received the most votes, which includes the new fall break.
Under the proposal, the fall holidays would be from October 12-16. Graduation and the last day of school would be May 25, 2027.
School would begin Wednesday, August 5, preceded by planning days from July 29-31 and Aug. 3 and 4.
Holidays in addition to the fall break include Labor Day, Sept. 5, Thanksgiving Nov. 23-27, Christmas December 21, 2026-January 1, 2027 Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 18, 2027 Presidents Day Feb. 15 and 16, 2027 and Spring Break April 59, 2027. Central office and the schools will be closed May 31, 2027 for Memorial Day, June 18, 2027 for Juneteenth (which falls on a Saturday) and July 1-3, 2027 for Independence Day.
Early release days will be observed before Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break including Nov. 20, Dec. 18 and April 2, 2027.
Faculty and staff will also have professional development days Jan. 4 and 5, Feb. 17 and March 8, all in 2027. All four of those professional development days will be holidays for students.
Post planning will be May 26-28, 2027.
