Board of Education approves revised 2026–2027 school year calendar;
Furlough day scheduled for Friday, March 19, 2027 as a budget-cutting strategy
During the regularly scheduled May 28, 2026 meeting, the Littleton Public Schools Board of Education heard a recommendation from the District Calendar Committee to place a furlough day in the 2026–2027 school year calendar. The District Calendar Committee was charged to make such a recommendation to the Board after an agreement was reached through negotiations with the Littleton Education Association and the district to implement a furlough day as a cost-cutting measure for next year – one of many strategies to make the necessary $10.6 million in cuts for 2026–2027. On a furlough day, there is no school, and no employees work or get paid for that day. One furlough day saves LPS about $800,000.
Subsequently, the Board approved the recommendation during its regularly scheduled June 11, 2026 meeting. The furlough day was placed on Friday, March 19, 2027. Therefore, there will be no school, the district will be closed, and no employees will be paid for that day.
Board members noted that reducing instructional time through a furlough day is not what they would ever choose to do in better times. But, it is nearly impossible to make the necessary $10.6 million in cuts for next year without reducing compensation. Education is a people-centered service, and approximately 85 percent of LPS’s general fund supports salaries and benefits.
The District Calendar Committee, which includes parents, teachers, principals, district leaders, and representatives from the Littleton Education Association and the Classified Employees Advisory Council, made the recommendation after carefully considering the impact to students, families, staff, and the community. It was important to place the furlough day in the spring semester to give families and employees time to make arrangements. A number of options were considered, with the Committee doing its best not to further impact shortened school weeks and to avoid testing schedules determined by the state.
The Committee ultimately recommended Friday, March 19, 2027 as the furlough day because it is attached to the existing district spring break scheduled for March 22–26, 2027. The Committee and the Board were also very clear that they understand the inconvenience and hardship some families face for an additional day of childcare due to the furlough day.
As part of the negotiated agreement with the LEA, the furlough day would be removed from the calendar should the Board decide to move forward with the option of placing a mill levy override question on the ballot in November and should that measure pass.
The revised 2026–2027 school year calendar and additional information about the calendar can be accessed on the district website.