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Posted: October 12, 2022 | Updated: November 1, 2022
Summary: Updated school calendar approved. View updated dates for the 2022-23 school year.
School Year Calendars
The updated school year dates have been agreed upon by Seattle Public Schools [SPS] and Seattle Education Association [SEA]. The school calendar is always developed in collaboration with the educators’ union.
Wednesday, Oct. 12, Seattle School Board voted to approve the revised 2022-23 school year dates.
Five days must be added to make up the delayed start of the school year. The five make up days are Feb. 2, June 27, 28, 29, and 30.
High school graduation ceremony dates will be rescheduled based on the updated 2022-23 school year calendar. High school calendars will be updated with specific graduation dates by Oct. 21.
Key Dates 2022-23
View start and end times for all schools. All schools have a 75-minute early release on Wednesdays, except the first day of school.
September 14 First day of school for all students. [Delayed from Sept. 7 for 1 – 12 grade and Sept. 12 for kindergarten and preschool.]
October 14 State In-service Day [no school for students]
November 11 Veterans Day [no school]
November 21-23 Elementary conference days [no school for elementary and K-8 students; varies by school]
November 24-25 Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day [no school]
December 16 1-hour early dismissal
December 19-30, 2022 Winter break [no school]
January 2, 2023 New Year’s Day Observed [no school]
January 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day [no school]
February 2 Strike make up day 1.
February 20-24 Mid-winter break including Presidents Day [no school]
April 10-14 Spring break [no school]
May 29 Memorial Day [no school]
June 19 Juneteenth [no school]
June 23 – 30 Graduation ceremony schedule. Please note, graduation dates may change with the revised calendar.
June 30 Last day of school; 1-hour early dismissal. Strike make up days 2-5.
- Potential snow makeup dates July 3, 5, and 6.
Minimizing the Impact of Snow Days
Seattle Public Schools and Seattle Education Association are working together to explore using technology so students can continue to learn from home during inclement weather/snow days.
Minimizing the Impact of Snow Days
Seattle Public Schools and Seattle Education Association are working on innovative solutions that will minimize the possibility of extending the 2022-23 school year into July, while still meeting the state-required 180 days of student-centered learning.
Together, we are exploring using technology so students can continue to learn from home during inclement weather/snow days.
We cannot predict or control the weather, but we can maximize our response to it. Every SPS student has access to a laptop or an iPad along with options for internet access. This means we now have a proven way to engage with students even when snow or other extreme weather makes it unsafe to go to school buildings.
2022-23 Term Dates
SemestersSemesters: High Schools, Middle Schools, K-8
- Semester 1 September 14 – February 8
- Semester 2 February 9 – June 30
Quarters: High Schools, Middle Schools, K-8
- Quarter 1 September 14 – November 17
- Quarter 2 November 18 – February 8
- Quarter 3 February 9 – April 26
- Quarter 4 April 27 – June 30
Trimesters: Elementary and K-8 Schools
- Trimester 1 September 14 – December 12
- Trimester 2 December 13 – March 29
- Trimester 3 March 30 – June 30
Approval and Planning School Year Dates
The school calendar is developed collaboratively with SEA and the dates are agreed upon in the Collective Bargaining Agreement [CBA]. The formula to schedule key dates in the CBA states that the first day of school will be the first Wednesday of September.
The key dates formula was originally bargained in the 2015-18 CBA as a tool for staff and families so there would be consistency around calendars and dates weren’t arbitrarily set.
During the 2019 bargaining period, multiple joint workgroups between SPS and SEA were established, with one specifically organized to address inclusive considerations related to religious and cultural observations and practices. This workgroup developed supplemental materials and guidance to go along with the traditional school year calendar.
While not all religious/cultural events can be accommodated for, this guidance was created to serve as a reference for schools, families, and communities to be aware of potential schedule conflicts and excused absences and/or to make appropriate accommodations and supports for students and families on days of religious/cultural observances.
The religious and cultural observances identified in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 Religion and Religious Accommodations documents, also highlights observances and traditions which involve fasting, which may have an impact on students’ abilities to perform at their highest level or be a reason for an absence from class.
Key Dates in the CBAThe below dates were negotiated as a part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement [CBA].
- First day of school: The first Wednesday in September.
- State In-service Day: As recognized by the state and typically the second Friday in October.
- Winter break: At least 10 weekdays, ending after New Year’s Day. If New Year’s Day falls or is observed on a Monday, students will return to school on the next day [Tuesday].
- Mid-winter break: Presidents’ Day and the following four workdays.
- Spring break: Five days starting the second Monday in April.
- Snow make-up days: At least three snow days shall be scheduled, including the day between semesters, and the first two days following the last day of school in June. Additional snow make-up days may be added in June if necessary
- Holidays:
- Labor Day [when school begins before this day in September]
- Veterans Day [November]
- Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving [November]
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day [January]
- Presidents’ Day [February]
- Memorial Day [May]
- Contractual Days: The four days immediately preceding the start of school, except for the Friday before Labor Day
- Conferences: Three consecutive days for conferences immediately preceding Thanksgiving Day
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