Dear ASD Community,

I want to share an important update regarding the Anchorage School District’s (ASD) 2026–27 school year calendar.

After hearing your feedback, we are bringing forward a new recommendation for the 2026–27 school year calendar. This recommendation returns the first day of school to August 19 and moves the three additional instructional days to the last quarter.

Last week, the Anchorage School Board approved multiple school year calendars, including the 2026–27 calendar, which moved the start of the school year earlier.

That change was made to increase instructional time for our students. Time in the classroom is one of the most important drivers of student success, supporting improved learning, consistent progress, and better outcomes. Protecting instructional time remains a central focus of our work.

I also want to provide important context.

As part of the recently settled contract with our partners, the Anchorage Education Association, ASD added three additional days to the year. At a time when districts across the country are reducing or considering reductions to instructional time due to budget pressures, we made the decision in partnership with our educators to increase time for student learning. That is a meaningful investment in our students, and one we believe is important to protect. 

However, the timing of that agreement required us to finalize calendar decisions later than we typically would. In doing so, we did not provide families with the notice and engagement you are accustomed to and expect. For that, I take responsibility.  

After listening and reflecting on the thoughtful feedback from families, individual school board members, and community partners, we will bring forward a revised recommendation for the 2026-27 calendar at next Tuesday’s School Board meeting. 

This new recommendation maintains the additional instructional days for students while moving them to the second semester, eliminating the need for an earlier start date in the fall. Our goal is to provide families and staff with the clarity and time needed to plan ahead with confidence, while still protecting valuable instructional time for students. 

We are also taking steps to improve how we engage our community in this process. We will revisit the calendar committee structure to make it stronger and more accessible, including creating opportunities for community members to participate in future decisions from the outset. 

The updated recommendations for the 2026-27 school calendar are now posted on our school calendar webpage. You will also find a detailed FAQ that explains how we got here, what is changing, and what to expect next.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share feedback and engage with us. Your voice matters, and it helps us make better decisions for our district. 

We recognize that many families are making plans for the upcoming school year. With a final decision from the School Board expected next week, we encourage families to wait for that confirmation before making any additional adjustments. 

We are committed to learning from this and moving forward in a way that reflects both strong planning, and a continued focus on our mission to prepare all students for success in life. 

With gratitude,

Dr. Jharrett Bryantt
Superintendent
Anchorage School District