Presenter outlines shift to trimesters for 2026–27 to support standards-based grading

Presenter said the school will move progress reporting from four quarters to three trimesters beginning in the 2026–27 school year as part of a transition to standards-based grading.

The change will shift the academic calendar from four quarters of about 45 instructional days each, with four report cards annually, to three trimesters of roughly 60 instructional days each, with progress reports issued three times per year, the Presenter said.

The Presenter said the trimester schedule is intended to give teachers "more opportunities to provide detailed formative feedback to students," and to give students "more time to engage in remediation or enrichment activities" so they can improve understanding of specific standards before the grading period ends.

Officials also said trimesters should provide "a clearer picture of student progress over a longer period," helping educators, students and parents see growth beyond shorter-term grade snapshots.

The Presenter described standards-based grading as focused on mastery of individual learning goals and stated that longer instructional and assessment windows under trimesters will better align with that philosophy by encouraging deeper understanding rather than short-term performance benchmarks.

The district will continue to make assessments viewable in PowerSchool and maintain parent-teacher conferences and ongoing classroom communication, the Presenter said. A mid-trimester progress report will be sent to parents and guardians halfway through each trimester with an overview of student progress in core subject areas.

Many updates will appear in the weekly Sunday family newsletter, and the Presenter said upcoming videos will "begin to identify and explain the characteristics of a successful Zephyr" to help families understand the new reporting and grading approach.

The Presenter did not provide a specific implementation timeline beyond the 2026–27 school-year start date, nor did the announcement include details about calendar adjustments, staffing changes or district-wide policy approvals.