The Department of Education has issued new guidelines for the implementation of a three-term school calendar in basic education, beginning School Year 2026-2027.
Under DepEd Order No. 009, s. 2026, the school year will no longer be divided into the usual quarters. Instead, it will be organized into three terms, with each term having its own opening period, regular learning period, and end-of-term activities.
For many parents and learners, this may sound like a major change. But in simple terms, DepEd wants the school year to be more organized, less crowded with overlapping activities, and more focused on actual classroom learning.
According to DepEd, the previous four-quarter school calendar had several problems. These included class disruptions, overlapping activities, and limited time for teachers and learners to recover from academic pressure.
DepEd said the new three-term setup is meant to give schools a clearer structure for teaching, assessment, learner support, and teacher development.
The goal is not simply to change the calendar. The goal is to protect learning time and help schools manage the school year better.
Instead of four quarters, the school year will be divided into three terms.
Each term will have three parts:
This structure is meant to make the school calendar more predictable and less cluttered.
For public schools, School Year 2026-2027 will officially open on Monday, June 8, 2026, and end on Thursday, April 8, 2027.
The school year will have 201 class days, which falls within the law requiring not less than 200 class days and not more than 220 class days.
The end-of-school-year break will run from April 9 to May 9, 2027.
Based on the DepEd calendar, the three terms for School Year 2026-2027 are scheduled as follows:
Term 1 will have 69 class days.
It begins with the Opening Block from June 8 to 11, 2026, followed by the Instructional Block from June 15 to September 1, 2026. The End-of-Term Block will be from September 2 to 15, 2026.
Term 2 will have 65 class days.
Its Instructional Block will run from September 16 to December 3, 2026, while the End-of-Term Block will be from December 7 to 18, 2026.
Term 3 will have 67 class days.
Its Instructional Block will run from January 4 to March 23, 2027, while the End-of-Term Block will be from March 24 to April 8, 2027.
One of the biggest changes in the new calendar is the formal use of an End-of-Term Block.
This period is not just for exams. It is also meant for activities that usually compete with classroom time.
During this period, schools may conduct:
This means some activities that used to interrupt regular classes may now be placed at the end of each term instead.
Yes. DepEd still includes examinations in the new calendar.
However, the order states that assessments should be aligned with the prescribed learning competencies. It also emphasizes that assessment should support learning and not simply become a compliance activity.
Summative assessments, including term examinations, will be conducted before the End-of-Term Block.
The new calendar includes wellness breaks for both learners and teachers.
For learners, the wellness break is meant to give them time to rest, reflect, and recover after completing end-of-term requirements. It may include guided activities that help learners process what they learned during the term.
For teachers, the wellness break is intended to help them maintain work-life balance and support their mental and physical well-being.
DepEd also wants to protect instructional time by controlling when programs and celebrations are held.
Legislated activities and observances may still be conducted, but they should be integrated into classroom learning when possible. If activities are not necessary during regular class time, they may be scheduled during the End-of-Term Block or outside instructional time.
This is intended to reduce disruptions to regular classes.
The order applies to public elementary and secondary schools, as well as community learning centers.
Private schools, Philippine Schools Overseas, and state or local universities and colleges offering basic education may adopt the guidelines, as long as they do not deviate from the required number of class days and other applicable laws and regulations.
For parents and learners, the three-term calendar means the school year may feel more structured.
Instead of having many activities scattered throughout the year, DepEd wants schools to place lessons, assessments, school forms, recovery programs, and wellness breaks in more organized blocks.
This could make it easier for families to understand when regular classes happen, when exams are expected, and when learners may have breaks or school-related activities.
For teachers, the calendar is designed to give clearer periods for teaching, assessment, reporting, professional development, and wellness.
The order also gives attention to reducing unnecessary disruptions during instructional time. This may help teachers focus more on classroom instruction during the main learning period of each term.
The three-term school calendar is DepEd’s attempt to make the school year more organized and learner-centered.
It does not remove classes, exams, or school activities. Instead, it rearranges the school year so that regular learning time is better protected, school activities are more properly scheduled, and learners and teachers are given time for recovery and wellness.
For School Year 2026-2027, public schools will begin classes on June 8, 2026, and end the school year on April 8, 2027, with a total of 201 class days.
At its simplest, the new system can be understood this way: three terms, clearer schedules, protected learning time, and built-in periods for assessment, recovery, and rest.
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