The Anchorage School Board has approved changes to the school calendar for the 2026-27 academic year, moving the start date up by one week. Students in first through sixth grades and ninth grade will begin classes on August 13, while students in seventh through twelfth grades will start on August 14. This adjustment follows a contract agreement between the Anchorage Education Association and the school district, which added three instructional days to the calendar. The board originally approved the school calendar last September, with the initial start dates set for August 19 and 20. The decision to add the extra days at the beginning of the school year aims to keep semesters and quarters balanced in length, avoiding excessively long fourth quarters. The board's decision was influenced by a poll conducted last May, which gathered feedback from over 2,000 parents, teachers, and community members regarding preferred school start dates and holidays. The revised calendar will be in effect for the next three school years, concluding in the spring of 2029.