(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
Chicago Public Schools officials signed off on a new academic calendar for the upcoming school year that will see the start of classes pushed back by a week while the city hosts the Democratic National Convention.
The Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday unanimously approved academic calendars for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. The most significant change included in those is the weeklong delay to the start of fall classes later this year.
“We are making these changes to accommodate the logistical needs of the city, especially around public safety, as Chicago prepares to host the Democratic National Convention,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said Wednesday. “I hope that providing these dates far in advance will give our staff and families plenty of time to plan.”
The DNC is scheduled to run from Aug. 19-22 at the United Center.
Classes this fall are now slated to begin Aug. 26 and run until June 12, 2025.
The proposed 2024-25 academic calendar. (Chicago Public Schools)
Because the school year would be starting a week later, the first semester would not end until Jan. 17, 2025 — following winter break.
According to CPS, the 2024-25 calendar includes 176 full student attendance days along with 12 employee professional development days and two parent-teacher conferences. Students would also get a two-week winter vacation, a one-week spring vacation and no classes the week of Thanksgiving.
Classes would also be canceled on local and national election days.
The 2025-26 calendar includes the same set up as the 2024-25 calendar, according to Martinez, who said that framework has been received positively by parents, students and staff. Classes will begin Aug. 18, 2025 and run through June 4, 2026.
The proposed 2025-26 academic calendar. (Chicago Public Schools)
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