RENO, Nev. — At its most recent public meeting, the Washoe County School District (WCSD) Board of Trustees unanimously approved an update to all school calendars, which will adjust the start date for kindergarten and Pre-K students to align with the first day of school for all other students. The change will take effect beginning in Fall 2026 and will apply to all kindergarten programs including Special Education, English Learner, Pre-K, Early Childhood, and other district-supported programs at all WCSD elementary schools.
In the past, kindergarten students engaged in individual assessments during the first regular week of school and formally started classes one week later than all other elementary school students. Going forward, teachers will conduct assessments over the first few weeks of school. The change is the result of a new requirement established by the Nevada Department of Education (NDE) which informed Nevada school districts that they must either align kindergarten starting and ending dates with the rest of the elementary grades or create two separate calendars.
Under the Balanced Calendar, which a majority of WCSD schools follow, the district’s first day of school is Monday, August 10, 2026. All calendars—Balanced, Incline Village, Gerlach, and TMCC High School – have been updated to reflect the change and are available at http://washoeschools.net/calendars
“We believe starting all elementary school students together on the first day is easier and more consistent for our families,” said Don Angotti, Chief Academic Officer of Elementary Education for WCSD. “Under the new calendar, all students will have the same opportunity to build classroom connections, establish routines, and begin learning on day one. We look forward to welcoming them to school next August.”
In addition, the Board approved a Professional Development Day for WCSD teachers on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when the Washoe County Registrar of Voters has asked to use a number of school sites for the mid-term national elections. There will be no classes, events, or activities for students districtwide on that date.
