Public schools will return to a June-to-April school calendar starting School Year 2026–2027, as the Department of Education shifts to a three-term system with built-in breaks.
The change was formalized through DepEd Order No. 009, s. 2026, issued on April 16. The new calendar will open on June 8, 2026 and end on April 8, 2027, covering a total of 201 class days.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the shift will allow “longer and continuous periods of learning” and a “more appropriate pacing of study,” while also helping ensure teachers are “not overburdened.”
DepEd said the move aims to address recurring disruptions that have reduced actual teaching time in recent years. These include weather-related suspensions and other interruptions that have affected lesson delivery and student performance.
Under the three-term system, the school year will be divided into three parts with scheduled breaks in between. The agency said this setup will allow a more even pacing of lessons and assessments, while giving students and teachers time to rest.
The department added that the new calendar is expected to help manage teacher workload and improve student engagement in class.
Private schools, as well as state and local universities and colleges, may choose to adopt the same calendar or continue with their current schedules, depending on their policies.
DepEd said detailed schedules for school activities, including term breaks and assessments, will be released through separate memoranda before the start of the school year.
The order takes effect immediately and replaces previous guidelines on the school calendar.
