Calendar for 2026-27 academic year now available

During its meeting on Jan. 15, the Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education formally approved the calendar for the 2026-27 academic year.

• Full Calendar (including events and activities)
• 2026-2027 Academic Calendar (English)
• 2026-2027 Academic Calendar (Spanish) – coming soon!
• 2026-2027 Academic Calendar (Russian) – coming soon!
• 2026-2027 Academic Calendar (Ukrainian) – coming soon!

Among the highlights:

• First Day of Classes (Grades 1-8): August 19, 2026
• First Day of Classes (Pre-K): August 20, 2026
• First Day of Classes (Kindergarten Group A): August 20, 2026 
• First Day of Classes (Kindergarten Group B): August 21, 2026
• Fall Break: November 23-27, 2026
• Winter Break: December 21, 2026 – January 4, 2027
• Spring Break: March 22-26, 2026
• Last Day of Classes (tentatively): June 1, 2027

The proposed calendar was created with considerations of the district’s needs and a review of Township High School District 214’s calendar to align winter and spring breaks for students in both districts.

“The approval of this calendar reflects our continued commitment to thoughtful planning that supports student learning, staff collaboration and family needs,” said Superintendent Dr. Michael Connolly. “By aligning key breaks with District 214, we’re helping to create greater consistency for families while ensuring our schools are well-positioned for a successful year.”

New for this school year will be a shift of School Improvement Days from the traditional Friday schedule to Wednesdays or Thursdays. This change is intended to address attendance challenges we have experienced on Friday half-days. By moving these days to the middle of the week, we hope to improve participation and maximize the effectiveness of professional learning. The 2026-2027 school year will serve as a pilot year to evaluate how well this adjustment works.