The Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a new academic calendar on March 26 that adds more instructional days for selected campuses in the 2026-27 school year. The changes, known as Additional Days School Year (ADSY), will apply to nine schools: Linder Elementary, Pecan Springs Elementary, Sanchez Elementary, Wooldridge Elementary, Burnet Middle School, Dobie Middle School, Mendez Middle School, Paredes Middle School and Webb Middle School.
The initiative is designed to provide students with more high-impact instruction and reduce summer learning loss. ADSY is a state-funded program that adds 25 extra days of school for students who need additional support. Instead of following the standard schedule, these nine schools will offer 175 regular school days along with 18 optional extra summer days and seven optional “ADSY Saturdays” throughout the year.
A subset of students will be invited to participate in these extra sessions. During each additional day, they will receive at least four hours of core subject instruction such as math and reading as well as enrichment activities. According to the district’s announcement: “This schedule is not summer school, but is instead a high-impact learning opportunity led by certified teachers to help boost student achievement.”
The Austin Independent School District educates more than 72,000 students and employs over 5,000 classroom teachers across diverse communities according to the official website. The district supports a multicultural environment where over 100 languages are spoken by its students according to the official website and provides instruction in more than 100 languages while offering programs in eleven languages other than English according to the official website.
Austin ISD operates a total of 116 different schools including elementary through high schools as well as early college programs and magnet academies according to the official website. The district maintains a graduation rate of 93.3 percent and reports exceeding state averages on SAT and ACT scores according to the official website. It also focuses on partnering with families and community members so that students gain knowledge for success in college or careers according to the official website.
District officials describe this move as an effort not only aimed at improving academic performance but also providing equitable opportunities for all learners.