Education Dept. adjusts school calendar for staggered return in January

By THE STAR STAFF

Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés announced on Thursday a restructuring of the school calendar to facilitate a gradual return to schools after the Christmas break, with an open house scheduled for Jan. 9 and the start of classes for students on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026.

“The start of the school year remains scheduled for January 8, when teaching and non-teaching staff will report to their schools to begin workshops and training,” Ramos Parés said in a written statement detailing the adjustments to the calendar.

He said the open house will be held on Jan. 9, providing a space for parents and guardians to talk with teachers and school staff to coordinate academic strategies and address specific situations before students return to the classrooms.

“This restructuring was carried out at the request of the school communities, which highlighted the importance of this prior contact with teaching and socio-emotional support staff,” Ramos Parés said. “We sat down and outlined a strategy that does not affect the students’ instructional days.”

The school calendar includes 93 instructional days during the semester and sets the end of the academic year on May 29.