This page explains how NY School Calendar builds and maintains its calendar pages. We publish independent informational guides, not official district documents, so we believe it is important to explain where our dates come from, how we distinguish official calendars from projected ones, and how we handle corrections when source information changes.
Our Main Source Types
- Official district websites: district calendar pages, downloadable calendar hubs, and public notices.
- Board-approved calendar PDFs: when a district publishes its school year calendar as an official PDF or board document.
- District announcements and updates: especially when a previously published calendar is revised.
- Related district materials: calendar downloads, iCal feeds, or other district-published scheduling documents when relevant.
How We Build a Calendar Page
We manually collect the key dates from public district materials and then reorganize them into a format that is easier to scan on the web. This usually means standardizing date formatting, grouping holidays and breaks more clearly, and presenting first day, last day, and major recesses in a more readable layout.
In some cases we simplify labels for clarity. For example, a district's original wording may be shortened or normalized on our page so families can quickly understand whether a date represents a closure, recess, half day, or school opening. Our aim is to preserve the scheduling meaning while making the information easier to use.
We do not simply scrape and republish every line from a district document. Dates are selected and screened by hand for usefulness, source quality, and relevance to family planning. When a source document includes staff-only dates, grade-specific notes, or conflicting labels, we decide how to present that information so the page remains readable while still pointing users back to the official source.
How We Verify Dates
When possible, we compare multiple district-published references before treating a date as official. We also run internal checks on date structure and school-year formatting so obvious inconsistencies can be caught before or after publication.
If a district's materials conflict, the district's most recent official publication or announcement should be treated as the final authority. If we discover that our page is behind the latest district release, we update the page as soon as practical.
Official vs. Projected Calendars
We use two main labels on school-year pages:
- Official: the district has published a calendar or comparable official schedule for that school year.
- Projected: the district has not yet released the next school year's official calendar, so the dates shown are estimates for planning purposes only.
Projected calendars may be based on historical district patterns, holiday placement, and common New York school scheduling structures. They should never be treated as the district's final word.
How We Update Pages
We update calendar pages when a district publishes a new official file, revises a previously posted calendar, or when a reader sends a correction that can be verified against an official source. Some updates are routine, such as replacing projected dates with an official release. Others happen because a district changes a closure, conference day, or make-up day after publication.
Not every district updates its website in the same way or on the same timeline. Because of that, there can be a lag between a district posting a change and our page reflecting it. For time-sensitive decisions, families should always confirm against the district directly.
How to Report a Correction
If you believe a date on our site is wrong, the preferred option is the "Found an error? Report here" link shown on district pages. That link opens our Google form and helps standardize correction submissions. The form can also accept supporting screenshots or PDF files. If needed, you can also use our general correction form or email hello@nyschoolcalendar.com if that is more convenient.
The most useful correction submissions include:
- The exact page URL on our site
- The district name and school year
- The date or label you believe is incorrect
- A link or screenshot from the official district source
- Any context that explains whether the district has issued a correction or a newly released calendar
Known Limitations
- We are not the official source for any district calendar.
- Districts can revise dates after first publication.
- Projected calendars are estimates and may change materially once the official file is released.
- For enrollment, testing, travel, childcare, or any other high-stakes decision, the district's own publication should control.
Why We Publish This Page
Sites like ours are most useful when families can understand not just the dates themselves, but also the level of confidence behind them. This page exists to make that process more transparent. If you want a general overview of the site, visit our About page. If you need to reach us directly, visit our Contact page.