With a late Labor Day on Sept. 7 Parkland officials voted to schedule the first day of school Aug. 24 for the 2026-2027 school term.

There will be nine days of school prior to the Labor Day weekend which runs Sept. 4-7.

Teachers will be engaged in professional development Aug. 18, 19 and 20.

When the calendar was discussed at a committee meeting, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tim Chorones explained all the superintendents in the Lehigh Valley got together and worked with Lehigh Career and Technical Institute to collaborate and be on the same schedule as much as possible within the county.

Chorones said the meeting of the superintendents and LCTI representatives took place in the fall.

At the Feb. 17 board meeting, comments arose over the late announcement of the early starting date, with reports of people already having scheduled family vacations for the week of Aug. 24.

Superintendent Dr. Mark Madson vowed to provide the information sooner when the 2027-2028 calendar is prepared, to give families earlier notice of not only the starting date but of school holidays throughout the year.

He noted the new calendar includes a two-week winter vacation once again.

Schools will be closed Dec. 21 up to Jan. 4, 2027 when classes resume.

“The two-week holiday is very popular, although we need to be sensitive to the concerns of working families,” Madson said.

Chorones observed families will be excited with the two-week holiday break allowing time for travel and “making core memories with each other.”

Additional holidays on the calendar include Nov. 26, 27 and 30, Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 26 and 29 and May 31, 2027.

Snow make up days will be Feb. 12 and March 26, 2027.

The last day for students will be June 8, 2027.