The College Station Independent School District (CSISD) Board recently held a workshop to discuss the development of the 2025-2026 school calendar, emphasizing community feedback and the importance of accommodating both educational needs and family schedules.

During the meeting, the district shared its iterative process for calendar development, which began in September with surveys sent to staff, parents, and community members. This year, the district received nearly 800 responses in the second round of feedback, a significant increase from the first round, indicating strong community engagement. The feedback focused on preferences for school breaks, professional development days, and the overall structure of the academic year.

Key considerations included maximizing instructional time while ensuring educator and student wellness. The proposed calendars feature an August 13 start date and conclude before Memorial Day, allowing construction crews ample time to work on district facilities funded by a recent bond. Both calendar options include built-in professional development days and holidays, such as Labor Day and Thanksgiving.

Notably, the calendars differ in their handling of specific days off, such as Halloween and October breaks, reflecting community preferences. The district aims to balance these preferences while adhering to state requirements for instructional days.

Looking ahead, the district plans to gather further feedback through a survey available over the winter break, closing on January 3. The results will be reviewed by the District Educational Improvement Committee (DEIC) on January 8, with a recommendation for the board to consider in the following week.

This proactive approach to calendar development highlights CSISD's commitment to involving the community in decision-making processes that directly affect students and families, ensuring that the academic calendar aligns with their needs and expectations.