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Henrico School Board members will review the proposed 2025-2026 school calendar at a work session March 14 before voting on the calendar at a monthly meeting April 18.
The proposed calendar was drafted by the Henrico Schools’ Calendar Committee. While it currently has one first day for the entire division, the school board is considering a staggered start for the 2025-2026 school year for different grade levels, with some students beginning school on Monday, Aug. 18 and others beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
About 56% of HCPS parents, students and staff said they supported the staggered start proposal, according to a winter 2024 community survey, while 28% said they did not support a staggered start and 16% remained undecided.
The proposed calendar also would implement three divisionwide professional learning days, two student and staff “wellness days,” and reduce the number of half-days to four. Additional religious and cultural holidays, such as Yom Kippur, Diwali, and Eid al Fitr, would be recognized as student and teacher holidays.
The proposal would schedule the last day of school as May 29 and Thanksgiving break as Nov. 26-28, winter break as Dec. 22 - Jan. 2, and spring break as March 30 - April 3.
School board members also will receive an update about the Dual Language Spanish Immersion program for pre-kindergarteners through second graders at Elizabeth Holladay Elementary School, which HCPS plans to expand to third grade during the 2024-2025 school year.
HCPS plans to expand the program by one grade level each year, with fourth grade being added in 2025-2026, fifth grade in 2026-2027, and possibly middle school levels in 2027-2028.
The school board also will vote on the second cycle of funding from the Henrico Education Foundation for the 2023-2024 school year, totaling $43,044, which would support seven projects within two elementary, three middle, and two high schools.
Members of the public have an opportunity to submit written comments to the board through its online public forum.
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Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.
