(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT -- June 16, 2020) — The EPISD Board of Trustees today revised the 2020-21 academic calendar to help the District better prepare for the potential need for closures due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The changes mean students and instructional staff will start the year earlier than in previous years. They also create intersessions throughout the school year. The calendar is aligned with recommendations from the Texas Education Agency regarding pandemic preparedness and is aligned with the calendars other districts in the region are approving.

The first day of school for students will now be Aug. 3. Teachers will report for duty on July 27. The last day of instruction will be on June 8.

Other highlights from the new calendar include:

• A fall intersession on Oct. 5-16.
• A spring intersession on March 8-12.
• Winter break will be Dec.18-Jan. 5.
• Spring break will remain March 15-19

“The new calendar gives us the flexibility to deal with a potential second outbreak of the COVID-19 virus so that the impact on teaching and learning is minimized,” said Superintendent Juan E. Cabrera. “We know the new calendar will take some getting used to, but I am confident that our students, teachers and community will work together to help us cope with uncertainty during these difficult times.”

The newly-approved calendar increases the instructional days to 180 from 177. It also increases the instructional minutes to 76,830 from 76,610.

EPIS officials said the strategically placed breaks throughout the year will allow them to asses and plan for student learning, anticipate future disruptions, provide remediation for students who need it and train staff.

Below is a comparison between the previously approved calendar and the one approved by the Board on Tuesday: 

To download a copy of the new EPIS 2020-21 academic calendar, click here. (EPISD Employees: Please note days on duty for employees other than teachers are still being established and may not be reflected on the calendar. Those changes will be published shortly. However, the number of contract days for employees will not change.)