Austin ISD will increase the number of instructional days in the 2026-27 academic year from 169 to 171, the district announced in a news release.

What’s changing: The AISD board passed the addition of two instructional days during a May 21 board vote.

The days are to be added in October and February as part of what the district describes as a strategic effort to strengthen academic outcomes and expand learning opportunities for students.

Some context: The calendar update is part of a longer-term plan to gradually reach 175 instructional days in future school years, according to the district.

Once the district reaches its goal of 175 instructional days, it would become eligible for supplemental funding under the Texas Education Agency's Additional Days School Year program.

Readers in Central and Southwest Austin will soon see changes to local library access.

The Austin Public Library postponed the reopening of the Old Quarry Branch Library and the closure of the Menchaca Road Branch Library, which were previously scheduled for this month.

The big picture: The Old Quarry Branch will reopen later this summer, after additional electrical infrastructure and approval requirements were identified, according to a news release. Further work will be done so the branch can open safely.

“The renovated Old Quarry Branch is going to be an incredible community asset, and it is important that the remaining infrastructure work and approvals are completed before the building reopens,” Austin Public Library Director Hannah Terrell said in a news release. 

Diving in deeper: The Menchaca Road Branch closure, previously scheduled for June 14, will be rescheduled for later this summer. The Menchaca Road Branch will close closer to the Old Quarry Branch reopening date to “minimize the impact on library customers caused by simultaneous branch closures,” the release stated.

Check out some of the most-read stories from the Austin area June 8-12.

1. Slick City Action Park location coming to Round Rock's east side

2. Georgetown officials consider creation of Woodside active adult community

3. Town halls set for 3 Cedar Creek data centers spanning nearly 1,500 acres

4. Austin seeks to rein in 'chaotic' e-moto use

5. Conejos Tex-Mex Cantina serves unique takes on regional classics

6. Check out 5 Cedar Park-area parks and recreation updates

As the 2026-27 school year nears, the number of people selected to participate in Texas’ education savings account program has topped 100,000.

The overview: To date, just over 102,000 students have been accepted into the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, which gives families state funds to send their children to private schools or homeschool them.

However, being awarded funds does not mean a student is guaranteed to be able to use that money at a participating private school this fall.

Zooming in: Over 2,600 private schools have been approved to accept TEFA funding, per the state comptroller's office. State law does not require schools participating in the program to accept all interested families.

Next steps: Families accepted into the program have until July 15 to do one of the following:

• Confirm enrollment at a private school involved in the program
• Notify the state of their homeschooling plans
• Opt out of the program