AISD Invites Public to Shape Future School Years After Major Calendar Shift | The Locally Times
Austin ISD opens a task force for 2027-2029 school calendars, inviting community input to build on the district's recent approval of an Additional Days School Year for 2026-27.
Austin Independent School District (AISD) is inviting the community to directly shape the academic calendars for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years. This engagement process follows shift in the district's instructional strategy. The AISD Board of Trustees recently approved an Additional Days School Year (ADSY) academic calendar for the 2026-2027 school year during its March 26 voting meeting. This ADSY model aims to provide more high-impact instruction and prevent summer learning loss, a goal outlined in a March 26 district announcement. Future calendar development will build directly on these strategic changes. ## Shaping Austin's School Life The structure of Austin's school year profoundly affects families and staff, influencing everything from childcare arrangements and vacation planning to the daily rhythm of home life. The district's call for community input on the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 calendars offers residents a direct opportunity to shape these fundamental aspects of the school experience for years to come. An April 2 district announcement confirms the task force will ensure plans effectively serve the entire school community. ## Expanding Learning with ADSY The 2026-2027 ADSY calendar, approved by the Board, marks a significant restructuring of instructional time within AISD. Its core objective is to enhance learning and reduce summer learning loss by extending the school year, as detailed in a March 26 district announcement. This pilot program provides additional instructional opportunities, including extended learning over the summer and on select Saturdays, all offered at no cost to families. This expansion of instructional time, whether through district-wide ADSY or targeted pilots, signals AISD's strategic focus on maximizing educational engagement. The ongoing process for the 2027-2029 calendars will be key in determining how these extended learning models might be integrated more broadly or refined, informed by both community feedback and the outcomes of the pilot programs. ## Join the Calendar Task Force Austin ISD is actively seeking community members to join its Calendar Task Force and contribute directly to shaping the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school calendars. The April 2 district announcement serves as the official public call for participation, underscoring the district's commitment to broad community involvement. While the announcement clearly states the district's intention to form this group for diverse representation, specific details regarding the application process, including deadlines or a formal submission portal, were not provided. ## Key Questions **How can residents provide input on the new calendars?** Austin ISD is forming a Calendar Task Force and is inviting community members to join this group to help create the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school calendars. **What is the purpose of the Additional Days School Year (ADSY) calendar?** The ADSY calendar, approved for the 2026-2027 school year, aims to provide more high-impact instruction and prevent summer learning loss for students. **Which school years are covered by this input process?** The current public input process and Calendar Task Force are focused on developing the academic calendars for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years.