At the Jan. 22 meeting, the Cy-Fair ISD board of trustees unanimously voted to approve the 2018-19 instructional calendar recommended by a 34-person committee of teachers, principals, parents and community members. Linda Macias, associate superintendent of curriculum, instruction and accountability, said the Texas Education Code mandates a minimum of 75,600 instructional minutes. State law also states that school cannot start before the fourth Monday in August and cannot end before May 15. Other considerations in developing the calendar included holidays, surrounding districts’ calendars, standard testing schedules and professional development days, Macias said. Here are the important dates to know: Aug. 13-17: Professional development Aug. 20-24: Professional development Aug. 27: First day of school Sept. 3: Student/staff holiday Oct. 8: Professional development, elementary parent conferences Nov. 19-23: Student/staff holiday Dec. 24-Jan. 3: Student/staff holiday Jan. 4: Professional development Jan. 21: Student/staff holiday Feb. 18: Professional development, inclement weather day March 11-15: Student/staff holiday April 19: Student/staff holiday May 27: Student/staff holiday May 30: Last day of school May 31: Professional development, inclement weather day The following grading periods were also approved along with the calendar: Elementary Aug. 27-Oct. 26 Oct. 29-Jan. 18 Jan. 22-March 29 April 1-May 30 Secondary Aug. 27-Oct. 19 Oct. 22-Dec. 21 Jan. 7-March 8 March 18-May 30