CFISD calendar Cy-Fair ISD announces the 2017-18 academic calendar.[/caption]

The Cy-Fair ISD board of trustees unanimously approved the 2017-18 academic calendar at its Jan. 23 meeting.

In the last legislative session, House Bill 2610 mandated that a school year be made up of 75,600 minutes, rather than the previously mandated 180 days. Additionally, Texas law does not allow students to start school before the fourth Monday in August.

Each school day in CFISD lasts 435 minutes, surpassing the state’s minimum requirement of 420 minutes. Teachers are contracted to work 187 days. With this approved calendar, graduation ceremonies will take place from May 30-June 2.

Aug. 14-18: Professional days
Aug. 21-25: Professional days
Aug. 28: First day of school
Sept. 4: Student/staff holiday
Oct. 9: Professional day
Nov. 20-24: Student/staff holiday
Dec. 22: Student/staff holiday
Dec. 25-29: Student/staff holiday
Jan. 1-4: Student/staff holiday:
Jan. 5: Professional day
Jan. 8: Classes resume
Jan. 15: Student/staff holiday
Feb. 19: Professional day/inclement weather day
March 12-16: Student/staff holiday
March 30: Student/staff holiday
May 28: Student/staff holiday
June 1: Last day of school
June 4: Professional day/inclement weather day

At the same meeting, the board voted to move from four to six grading periods in middle and high schools starting in 2017-18.

In 2009, the board approved moving from six to four annual grading periods in elementary schools districtwide. Linda Macias, associate superintendent of curriculum, instruction and accountability, said this has been a positive move. Secondary principals unanimously requested the change after roundtable discussions in December.

Middle and high schools will now end the first semester just before winter break, and the third grading period will end just before spring break. The fourth grading period will be the longest to allow for State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, end of course, Advanced Placement and final semester tests.

Elementary schools in 2017-18 will use the following grading period schedule: Aug. 28-Oct. 27, Oct. 30-Jan. 19, Jan. 22-March 29 and April 2-June 1.

Teachers will continue to report grades every three weeks, but students will have more time to respond to each progress update before grades become final on report cards, officials said.