Gilbert Public Schools is moving toward adopting academic calendars for the next three school years that would continue its current structure of longer breaks during the school year, following strong support from families and staff.
District officials presented draft calendars for the 2027-28, 2028-29 and 2029-30 school years, outlining two options: the existing 2-2-2 model and a return to the older 1-2-1 structure.
The decision is expected later this month.
The choice before the governing board centers on how to distribute time off across the school year.
Under the 1-2-1 model, students would have one week each for fall and spring breaks and a longer summer of roughly 10 to 11 weeks. The school year would begin in early August.
The 2-2-2 model, which the district has used in recent years, shortens summer to about eight to nine weeks but adds a second week to both fall and spring breaks. It also shifts the start of the school year into late July.
Both options maintain 180 instructional days and align the end of the school year before Memorial Day.
Survey results
District leaders said recent survey results show clear and consistent support for keeping the 2-2-2 calendar.
“We had a great response of 6,370 families,” Elementary Schools Assistant Superintendent Jason Martin said, noting participation levels comparable to previous surveys.
Among parents, about three-quarters favored the 2-2-2 model, while staff support was even higher.
“You will see some pretty consistent trends,” Martin said, adding that preferences remained steady throughout the survey period.
The shift reflects a significant change over time. Earlier surveys showed more evenly split opinions, but support for the 2-2-2 model has grown after families and staff experienced it firsthand.
Why families, staff prefer 2-2-2
Feedback presented to the board highlighted several reasons families favor longer breaks during the school year.
Many respondents said the additional time off helps prevent burnout and allows for travel without pulling students out of class.
“Students need to avoid burnout throughout the year,” Martin said, summarizing survey responses that emphasized rest and recovery.
Others cited alignment with neighboring school districts, most of which have moved to similar calendars, as well as improved academic retention due to the shorter summer break.
Staff responses echoed many of the same themes, particularly the benefit of having more meaningful breaks to balance workload.
Some teachers said the longer breaks allow time to both complete grading and lesson planning and still disconnect from work.
Trade-offs remain
Despite strong support for the 2-2-2 model, district officials emphasized that both options come with trade-offs.
Some families prefer the 1-2-1 calendar for its longer summer, which can make childcare easier and align better with out-of-state school schedules.
Others expressed concern about starting school in July, citing Arizona’s summer heat.
Staff also noted financial considerations, particularly for hourly employees who are not paid during school breaks.
Added benefits under 2-2-2
One key advantage of the 2-2-2 model is the ability to offer academic support during extended breaks.
The district has used part of fall and spring breaks for intersession programs, allowing struggling students to receive targeted help and improve their grades before the next quarter begins.
Participation in those programs has grown steadily, with high completion rates, according to district data.
“That is something that is unique,” Martin said.
Planning driven by structure and logistics
District officials said building a calendar involves more than just scheduling breaks.
They begin with a fixed end date near Memorial Day and work backward to balance semesters and quarters as evenly as possible.
“We’re always trying to make each quarter as close to 45 days as possible,” Martin said.
The process also takes into account teacher contracts, testing schedules, holidays and coordination with surrounding districts.
Decision expected soon
The governing board is expected to vote on a final calendar option later this month, allowing families and staff to plan well in advance.
“We also know there’s certain occupations … that have to plan out schedules a year ahead of time,” the administrator said.
If approved, the calendars will be posted and communicated to the community immediately following the vote.
Meet Tom Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.
Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.
Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism.
Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.
Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).
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