Saturday, October 24 is the Showcase of Schools, the last big in person look at JCPS schools before 2027 to 2028 applications open Monday, November 2. Elementary and middle school report cards are listed for Thursday, October 22. And a district committee has put draft school calendars for the next two years on the table, so families can already see possible first days, breaks and last days for fall 2027 and beyond.

Students are in class Monday, October 19, through Friday, October 23.

JCPS Board and District Administration

No Board meeting this week. The KSBA public portal for Jefferson County shows no business meeting, work session, special called meeting or committee meeting for October 18 to 24, checked October 16, 2026. If a special meeting is called, it will post there.

Draft calendars for 2027 to 2028 and 2028 to 2029

The JCPS Calendar Committee met Wednesday, October 14, to review draft 170 day calendars for both years, according to the meeting notice and packet on the committee's meeting page. The notice says the committee "serves as an advisory committee and may not make decisions or take action that binds" the Board. These are drafts headed to the Board "for consideration." Nothing is adopted.

The packet holds two versions, A and B, for each year. Both versions of each year share the same main dates. Version B adds more staff training days that "may be used as a make up day."

Draft dates for 2027 to 2028, read from the scanned packet linked above on the committee's KSBA meeting page:

  • First day for students: Thursday, August 5, 2027

  • Fall break for students: September 27 to October 1, 2027

  • Election Day, no school: Tuesday, November 2, 2027

  • Thanksgiving break: November 24 to 26, 2027

  • Winter break: December 20 to 31, 2027

  • Spring break: March 27 to 31, 2028

  • Last day for students: Friday, May 19, 2028

Draft dates for 2028 to 2029:

  • First day for students: Thursday, August 10, 2028

  • Fall break for students: September 25 to 29, 2028

  • Election Day, no school: Tuesday, November 7, 2028

  • Winter break: December 25, 2028, to January 5, 2029

  • Spring break: April 2 to 6, 2029

  • Last day for students: Thursday, May 24, 2029

If you book summer travel, camps or child care a year out, these drafts are the earliest signal you'll get. Treat them as tentative until the Board votes. The packet does not say when the Board will take them up, and it lists no public survey. Questions go to the contact listed in the notice.

What happened October 13

The Board's October 13 business meeting page now shows actions taken, though formal minutes are not yet approved.

  • School resource officer and social media policies. Policy 02.31 (School Resource Officers) and the employee social media policies for certified and classified staff (03.1XY and 03.2XY) were on the consent calendar as a second reading, item X.U. The consent calendar passed as Order #2026-160, with only two unrelated items pulled for separate votes. That means the policies were adopted. The text is in the attached policies packet.

  • State money for school resource officers. Also on that consent calendar, item X.Q.3 accepted $1,440,000 in Kentucky Department of Education reimbursement for officer salaries, $20,000 per officer a year, for 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027.

  • Showcase lease. The Board approved the event agreement with the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center for this Saturday's Showcase.

  • Closed session litigation vote. At the 5 p.m. special meeting, Order #2026-153 authorized Board counsel "to proceed with the recommended legal resolution strategies" for pending and proposed litigation discussed in closed session. The record names no case and no dollar amount.

  • 2027 meeting schedule. The Board received a report on next year's regular meeting dates. The rationale says the schedule "will be presented on the November 10, 2026, consent calendar for approval."

Fall iReady baseline

The October 13 academic presentation gave the Board fall iReady numbers for grades K through 8. Districtwide, 23.3% of students scored in the slide's "Early On Grade Level or Above" group in reading and 14.4% in math. Another 35.7% in reading and 43.4% in math scored one grade level below.

Read those carefully. The slides say "on grade level" in the fall should be read "in the context of the time of year," and they call this "baseline data," with progress checks in winter and spring. Your child's own iReady report from the school is more useful than the district average.

What Parents Should Watch This Week

State test results are out. The Kentucky Department of Education released 2025 to 2026 test and accountability results October 15. Statewide, reading proficiency rose to 50% in elementary, 48% in middle and 49% in high school, while math was flat or slightly down, according to Kentucky Teacher. KDE says fewer schools earned the top overall ratings, mostly because of lower year over year change scores. Look up your child's school on the Kentucky School Report Card. KDE also warns that a 2026 law, House Bill 257, changes the system starting in 2026 to 2027, so next year's results won't compare cleanly.

Seneca High sidewalk money. Louisville Metro Council's Appropriations Committee meets Wednesday, October 21, at 3 p.m. Eastern in "Council Chambers/Virtual," according to its tentative agenda. The agenda says the meeting "is being held via video teleconference" but gives no viewing link, and it lists no public comment period. Check that meeting page afterward for a recording. Two District 26 items are listed: $65,000 for a sidewalk extension at 3500 to 3510 Goldsmith Lane "completing the sidewalk to Seneca High School," and $30,000 for speed tables, signs, LED crossing signs and sidewalk on Goldsmith Lane. Both are proposed, not approved. Seneca families who walk that stretch will want the outcome.

Important JCPS Dates and Deadlines

  • Thursday, October 22: Report cards for elementary and middle schools, per the 2026 to 2027 parent calendar. High schools run on a different cycle, and the calendar notes many schools set their own schedules, so check with yours.

  • Through Friday, October 23: Gifted general intellect testing continues on the same calendar. Our gifted testing guide explains what the score does and doesn't decide.

Around JCPS Schools

The Showcase of Schools is Saturday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center, 3029 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. The district announcement says admission and onsite parking are free and every JCPS school will be there. It also lists a free shuttle all day from select JCPS schools. The last return shuttle leaves at 1 p.m., and children under 3 and strollers are not allowed on those buses. It is built for families with a child entering kindergarten, sixth or ninth grade, and for families new to JCPS. Elementary families should go too. The JCPS Elementary Schools and Programs page says "an application must be submitted in order to receive an elementary assignment," and it names incoming kindergarten students among those who may apply.

If you're sorting magnets before you go, start with our school choice hub, magnet high schools beyond Manual and what magnet applications ask for.

Coming Up Next

  • Early voting: No excuse early voting runs Thursday, October 29, through Saturday, October 31, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with excused in person absentee voting October 26 to 28, according to the Jefferson County Clerk. Board of Education seats are on the Tuesday, November 3 ballot. The clerk's office is 502 574 5700.

  • Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3: No school for students. The parent calendar lists a Gold Day and Election Day.

  • Monday, November 2, through Friday, December 18: The 2027 to 2028 school choice window, per the Student Assignment page. Applications "are not processed on a first-come, first-served basis," so there's no prize for applying at midnight.

Family Weekend

Showcase Saturday doesn't have to eat the whole weekend.

  • Louisville Book Festival, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Kentucky International Convention Center. Free, and every child leaves with a free book, per the festival FAQ.

  • Via Colori street painting, Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Big Four Bridge Lawn at Waterfront Park. Free, per Via Colori.

  • Boo at the Zoo, Friday from 5 p.m., $14.25 for nonmembers and free for 2 and under, timed tickets online only, per the Louisville Zoo.

Before Monday

  • Put October 22 report cards and October 24 Showcase on the family calendar.

  • Write down three questions per school you plan to visit Saturday.

  • Look up your child's school on the Kentucky School Report Card.

  • Check your voter registration and early voting site before October 29.

Did We Miss Something?

Send tips on Board and committee meetings, forums, SBDM activity, deadlines, school choice events and district notices through our contact page.

JCPS Insider is an independent parent resource and is not affiliated with Jefferson County Public Schools.