Early Start ADSY (Additional Days School Year)

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Adding opportunities to the school year

Dallas ISD has made great strides in student achievement, and during its regular meeting in January, the Board of Trustees gave the district another tool to make sure that students are getting all the support they need to succeed when it approved the Additional Days School Year starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Early Start ADSY adds extra learning days for 13 elementary schools and for sixth graders in seven middle schools before the start of the regular school year and on select Saturdays to support academic growth, build confidence, and ensure students begin the school year prepared for success. The additional days will also help students regain any skills they may have forgotten during the summer and get the support they need to be their best selves.

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Students and families

For students attending the 12 elementary schools, the school year will begin on July 28. They will come to school an additional 10 days in the summer right before school starts for everyone else and also have five Saturday school days spread out through the year.

For sixth graders transitioning to the seven middle schools the school year will also begin on July 28 before it begins for students in seventh and eighth grade. The students will also participate in the Saturday school days.

All students participating in ADSY will engage in activities that foster teamwork and spend their days honing their reading and math but also working together to create a sense of belonging among their peers and in the school. And they will also have time for fun activities that will connect them with school and keep them coming back. Saturday school will be extra fun with exciting themes for each one: Gaming; Superheros; Lights, Camera, Action; Under the Sea; and Sports Spectacular.

During the additional days, sixth graders will have 180 minutes of instruction in reading and math, 150 minutes of enrichment, and 90 minutes of group huddles and/or club activities.

Just like during the regular school year, all students will receive school meals during the additional days, and those who are eligible will receive transportation. After-school programs also will be available.

For questions or feedback, please use this form.

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Team members

Team members at John Q Adams, Lee McShan Jr., *Lida Hooe, John Neely Bryan, J.N. Ervin, José “Joe” May, Julian T. Saldivar, Harrell Budd, Birdie Alexander, Frank Guzick, and Ronald E. McNair elementary schools; H.S. Thompson STEAM Academy; and Marcus Leadership Academy will report to work on July 20.

Sixth-grade teachers as well as CILT and elective teachers at T.W. Browne, Hector P. Garcia, Sam Tasby, Harold Wendell Lang Sr., and Boude Storey middle schools; Royce West Leadership Academy; and Young Men’s Leadership Academy at Fred F. Florence will also start the school year on July 20.

Staffing is structured to ensure strong instructional coverage at each level and allow campuses to start the year with collaboration, consistency, and a shared focus on meeting student needs early. Although participation is not contractual, teachers are strongly encouraged to attend. All support staff will be at the schools to ensure the school year starts as planned.

* Lida Hooe is Saturday School only

Saturday programming allows campuses to extend learning time, strengthen relationships with students, and start the year with strong academic momentum.

Stipends are expected to appear in the September paychecks while pay for Saturdays worked will appear on checks the month following the date worked. For more information and frequently asked questions, please see the FAQ document.

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Additional support for sixth graders

Middle school is a hard transition for some students, which is why seven of the middle schools participating in ADSY (Browne, Garcia, Lang, Storey, Royce West, Tasby, and Young Men’s Leadership) will also take part in the Growing Excellence in Middle Schools pilot.

Students coming into middle school have left a school where they were for five to six years to go into a new environment. They are leaving behind the positive relationships they have built with teachers and friends. Going to a new campus with up to eight teachers can prove difficult, but GEMS will address academic, social and emotional challenges students might face as they navigate this new environment.