According to state law, school districts in Texas cannot begin school prior to the fourth Monday of August; however, at a Jan. 23 meeting, the Austin ISD board voted to approve a Texas Education Agency, or TEA, waiver request to start and end school year 2017-18 a week earlier.

According to Superintendent Paul Cruz, the purpose of shifting the school-year start and end dates is to align AISD's schedule with that of other area school districts. Additionally, ending the school year one week earlier would allow for more flexibility in summer school scheduling and would enable staff members to attend summer graduate school programs if they so choose.

If the change is approved by the TEA, Austin ISD students would begin school on Aug. 21 and end school on May 30. The first contract day for teachers would fall on Aug. 14, and would end on May 31. New teacher orientation would shift to Aug. 7-10. Student and staff holidays and days off would not be affected by the new calendar.

The motion to approve the 2017-18 calendar with a TEA policy waiver passed unanimously.