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The Detroit district has released its 2026-27 school year calendar, with an Aug. 24 start date for students.
The Detroit Public Schools Community District’s board approved the calendar last month, shortly before the district reached a tentative agreement with the teachers union. The calendar includes 175 student attendance days, with five additional days for professional development for staff, which reaches the state’s 180-day school year minimum. Michigan law allows the professional development hours to count toward instruction, even though students are not present on those days.
The calendar does not include observance of Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday expected to fall on March 10. Last school year, students, teachers, and community members spoke at multiple board meetings to ask the district to not hold class on the holiday.
Although the holiday counts as an excused absence, Muslim students said they sometimes have to make up tests and assignments after missing the day. They also miss out on receiving a weekly perfect attendance incentive the district offers from January through March.
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti has said the holiday hasn’t been on past calendars due to pushback during union negotiations over adjusting other breaks or extending the school year.
Detroit Federation of Teachers President Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins told Chalkbeat the union did not ask for the holiday to be observed in 2027 because of a lack of membership support.
Here are some key dates in the calendar:
- Fall count day will be Oct. 7. The day is crucial for the district because the number of students in attendance helps determine how much state funding schools receive. Spring count day will be Feb. 10.
- Thanksgiving break begins Nov. 25, with classes resuming Nov. 30.
- Winter break starts Dec. 21. Students will return to school Jan. 4.
- Midwinter break starts Feb. 15. Class starts again Feb. 22.
- Spring break will be March 26 through April 2, with students returning April 5.
- The last day of school is June 7. The following week will include four make-up days in case of emergency cancellations.
Hannah Dellinger covers Detroit schools for Chalkbeat Detroit. You can reach her at hdellinger@chalkbeat.org.
