Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) refers to each year's budget as an "Investment Plan" for its students, employees, and community. The conservative approach to budgeting has enabled the district to achieve balanced budgets each year while also delivering on the promises GCPS has made to its stakeholders.  Each year, GCPS engages in an eight-month budget process that involves staff and citizens.

The purpose of the FY2025 Budget Development Survey is to inform decisions around funding priorities in the School Year 2024-2025 with a focus on identifying programs that must be sustained after COVID-19 stimulus funds (ESSER) end in September 2024. Many ESSER-funded activities from 2020-2023 were centered around providing support to respond to the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of all students, particularly those disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Because teaching with an emphasis on learning is our core business, this is an opportunity to understand the community's priorities for the general budget as we move out of the phase of COVID-19 pandemic funding.

Before the Board of Education adopts the 2024-25 school year budget, GCPS will hold numerous public hearings to engage students, families, staff, and community members; the FY2025 Budget Development Survey is the first opportunity for the community to provide input. The survey is available in multiple languages and consists of four short questions.

Thank you in advance for responding to the FY2025 Budget Development Survey by December 11. Your participation is one of the first steps in the budget development process for FY25 (the 2024-2025 school year). Please continue to watch the Board Work Sessions for more information about FY25 budget development.  

Results were shared at the November 16, 2023, Board of Education work session. 

A school calendar guides the operations of the school district; it includes days when students and staff are in school and out of school. This year, GCPS is asking students, staff, and parents to review the four (4) available calendar options and vote on the calendar of your choice. You will be able to vote only one time. Each calendar option includes two (2) school year calendars: 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. Use the links below and review each option carefully before casting your vote. 

2024-25 and 2025-26 Calendar Voting Results

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) has adopted school calendars for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. The decision to adopt the new calendars was made after listening to GCPS families and staff.

For the first time ever, GCPS provided all students, staff, and parents the opportunity to vote for a school calendar. There were four options. In acknowledgment and respect of the various religious holidays observed by members of our diverse community, two of the four calendar options available included shorter breaks in the winter and fall to allow for days off for Eid al-Fitr, Good Friday, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Diwali. Voting opened on September 19 and ended on October 22.

When the votes were tallied, the results showed the overwhelming majority of respondents selected the calendar that is most similar to our current school calendar. We understand that the survey results may be disappointing to some, especially those who voted for a different calendar.

Creating GCPS school calendars that include 180 days of instruction is a complex task. It involves considering numerous parameters and community expectations, such as having a full week off for Thanksgiving, ending the first semester by winter break, finishing the school year by Memorial Day, and recognizing additional religious holidays.

While the calendar plays a crucial role in the school district’s operation, GCPS is committed to engaging with our diverse community to ensure the district remains culturally competent and respectful of the diversity that makes GCPS so strong.

Although the new calendar does not include additional days off for religious holidays, as a reminder, the observance of religious holidays necessitating absence from school is considered an excused absence. For example, every year, as we approach Ramadan, an email is sent to principals with guidance on how to show respect and sensitivity to fasting students. This includes providing alternate locations for students to sit during lunchtime and activities that require accommodations during Ramadan (i.e., allowing fasting students to be exempt from rigorous activity in Physical Education- teachers may provide alternate activities during Ramadan).

GCPS would like to thank everyone who ensured their voices were heard by voting. We appreciate and value your opinion and feedback.

Approved Calendars

2024-25 School Year

2025-26 School Year

• Approved 2024-25 Calendar
  • English
  • 中文
  • 한국어
  • Español
  • Tiếng Việt
• Approved 2025-26 Calendar
  • English
  • 中文
  • 한국어
  • Español
  • Tiếng Việt

 

A key improvement strategy calls on organizations to study the user experience.  In Gwinnett County Public Schools, we are providing students, staff, and family members opportunities to share their voice in the work we are doing to improve our schools through our Blueprint for the Future. 

Each year, to help improve our schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools collects feedback from our families about their school experience. Learn more about the Educational Effectiveness Surveys.