Poudre School District Proposes Later School Start Date for 2026-27 Academic Year
Poudre School District's Calendar Committee recommended beginning the 2026-27 school year on August 19, one week later than recent years, citing concerns about heat exposure during the traditionally hottest period of early August.
The proposal presented at the November 18 Board of Education meeting would mark the latest school start date in at least six years for the district, which serves approximately 31,000 students across Fort Collins, Timnath, LaPorte and surrounding communities in Larimer and Weld Counties.
Committee co-chairs told the board that beginning later helps reduce potential heat-related impacts at a time when temperatures in northern Colorado can be highest. Staff would begin the year with several non-student days clustered in mid-August for planning, professional learning and building preparation.
The district has started school progressively earlier in recent years, with the 2024-25 academic year beginning August 12—the earliest start date in at least five years. Previous years began August 14 in 2023, August 15 in 2022, August 16 in 2021, and August 24 in 2020 when the pandemic delayed the traditional schedule.
State Requirements Drive Calendar Structure
Colorado law requires public school districts to provide minimum instructional hours per year: 1,080 hours for secondary schools in grades 6-12, 990 hours for elementary schools, and at least 160 school days annually, according to Colorado Revised Statute 22-32-109.
The proposed calendar preserves a five-day fall break in October and a two-week winter break in December, both consistently identified as community priorities in district surveys. The first semester would run from August 19 through December 18 to ensure required instructional hours are met before winter break.
Sixth and ninth grade students would have a transition day scheduled for August 18, one day before all students return.
Strategic Spacing of Non-Student Days
The calendar includes non-student contact days grouped strategically to ease childcare challenges, support staff professional learning and balance instructional time across semesters, according to the district. Elementary-specific days are included for conferences and end-of-year preparation, while secondary schools maintain consistent semester transitions.
Building and work days, professional learning days and exchange days are spaced throughout the year with details available in materials shared with the Board of Education.
The Calendar Committee incorporated feedback from employees, families and past community surveys when developing the recommendation, according to the district.
Board to Vote in December
The Board of Education will hold a second reading and vote on the 2026-27 calendar at its December 9 meeting. Once approved, the calendar will be published on the district website in January, with school-specific and department-specific calendars following in spring.
Questions about the proposed calendar can be directed to Poudre Scool District at 970-490-3500.