By Jack Marflak
As the summer winds down, the excitement is building as students and parents prepare for a return to the classroom.
Kearny district schools will begin classes with a single-day session on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. The session is 8:30 am – 12:54 pm for grades Pre-K through 6; for 7-8 grades 8:20 am – 12:54 pm; and for 9-12 grades 8:20 am – 12:54 pm.
School district staff will have professional development days on Wednesday, Sept. 2 and Thursday, Sept. 3. Schools will be closed Sept. 4-7 for Labor Day weekend.
Parent teacher-conferences for grades pre-K through 6 will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, and for grades 7-8 will be held Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 and grades 9-12 October 29, 2026.
Winter break for the upcoming 2026-27 school year is from Dec. 24, 2026 through Jan. 1, 2027 with classes resuming on Jan. 4. Spring break will be March 26, 2026 through April 2, 2027 with classes resuming on April 5, 2027.
A law signed on July 30 of this year by Gov. Mikie Sherrill requires the state commissioner of education to recommend uniform spring break dates each year (Bill S-170). The new law does not go into effect until the school calendar year 2027-28. The Department of Education will publish the recommendation by June 30 of the previous school year in this case June of 2027.
The new state law, supporters say, will make it easier for families to coordinate their spring break plans. Each district would have to consider the state’s recommendation when making their yearly calendars.
Each district would still be allowed to use its own dates if it decides not to follow the state’s recommendation. Parents should always consult the official calendar for dismissal times and closings.
You can find the entire 2026-27 Kearny district calendar here: https://www.kearnyschools.com/page/district-calendars
In addition to the school calendar, the Kearny School District’s website is a useful resource for parents to access an abundance of information regarding the upcoming school year.
To help families prepare for the first day of school, the website provides supply lists organized by school and grade level.
The supply lists are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The lists are available for the district’s five elementary schools and Lincoln Middle School. https://www.kearnyschools.com/page/curriculum-and-instruction
Kearny High School has a separate section on the district website, prepared by the KHS Counseling Department, that outlines the KHS Program of Studies for the 2026-2027 school year. There is a section on graduation requirements, testing requirements, grading, athletic eligibility and course descriptions. KHS Program of Studies 2026-27
You can also access an explanation of the new district-wide “Bell to Bell”, Policy 5516, regarding personal electronic devices like cell phones.
The new policy means all devices must be turned off and stored away according to the district Policy 5516 and Regulation 5516. Both the policy and regulation can be found on the District’s webpage https://www.kearnyschools.com/
According to the district’s policy, “Bell-to-bell means the timeframe when the bell rings at the start of the school day until the dismissal bell rings at the end of the academic day. Bell-to-bell includes time in between class periods and lunch.”
As the new school year approaches, Kearny families are encouraged to take advantage of the many resources available, including school-supply lists, registration assistance, meal programs, health services and academic support.
Information can be found at KearnySchools.com or by calling the district at 201-955-5000.
Kearny Life wishes every student, parent, teacher and staff member a safe, successful and rewarding 2026–27 school year.