Los Angeles Unified Board Approves 2023-26 Instructional Calendars (03-27-23)

Los Angeles Unified Board Approves 2023-26 Instructional Calendars

Los Angeles, CA (March 27, 2023) – The Los Angeles Unified Board today approved the instructional calendar for the 2023-26 school years. The instructional calendars create greater balance between the Fall and Spring semesters, include a shortened winter recess and achieve greater alignment with other school districts.

“The new instructional calendars address the need to mitigate learning loss by shortening the winter recess and extending options for summer programming,” Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “We have also maintained a student centered focus in scheduling future instructional calendars to address family needs of childcare and food assistance, as well as provide a calendar that delivers the best educational experience.”

Los Angeles Unified undertook an extensive process of gathering input through surveys, focus groups and presentations from families, staff and labor partners. Two prominent themes emerged from this exercise: an equity lens when creating instructional calendars and the need for greater alignment with other school districts. The shorter winter recess will mitigate the impact of learning loss incurred during the break and enable a longer summer session, which aligns to the Board goals of addressing learning loss. Additionally, the District’s extended winter break was an outlier when compared to most local and national school districts. The new instructional calendars create consistency for families that may come into our district from other parts of the state or country and school-based employees who have children in neighboring school districts.

“With this instructional calendar, we are trying to balance the needs of students who benefit from time in the classroom, of adults in our schools who deserve time to rest and rejuvenate, and of our parents who often have to scramble for childcare the third week of vacation,” Board President Jackie Goldberg said. “The revised calendar brings us in line with most school districts in Southern California.”

“Adopting Instructional Calendars for the next three years is an important step for Los Angeles Unified, allowing us to continue our budget and planning process with a view toward the long term,” Board Vice President Scott M. Schmerelson said.

“Our goal should always be to prioritize a calendar that emphasizes the quality of instructional time for our students,” Board Member Dr. George J. McKenna III said. “I hope that we have achieved balance with the instructional needs as well as school/life balance for our students, staff and their families.”

“The Board's adoption today of a multi-year calendar provides helpful certainty for our families and staff,” Board Member Kelly Gonez said. “When our school community knows when school will be in session, they can better plan for their families, which I know firsthand as the mother of a Los Angeles Unified student myself.”

“I’m proud to support the new instructional calendar that centers our students and supports our families,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “Two and a half week break this year and two-week winter break going forward provides a shorter instructional pause along with more regular access to meals, socialization with peers and time to prepare for important college-readiness exams.”

For the most up-to-date information, please follow Los Angeles Unified on Twitter at @laschools and @lausdsup, Instagram at @laschools and @lausdsup and Facebook at @laschools and @AlbertoMCarvalho1.

###