Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) has reduced early release Wednesdays from every week to only the third Wednesday of each month. This applies to all district elementary schools, High Springs Community School, A. Quinn Jones School, Sidney Lanier School and Duval Early Learning Academy.

This change will provide an extra six days of instructional time, according to the ACPS news release. ACPS and the Alachua County Education Association – representing most district employees – came to an agreement to implement this change.

“We appreciate ACEA’s willingness to work with us on this change,” said Superintendent Shane Andrew, according to the news release. “It will give our students much more direct instructional time, which is critical to raising their academic achievement.”

Prior to this change, each Wednesday, students were released 68 minutes early. This allowed time for teacher planning and meetings. This year, teachers “will have planning time on regular Wednesdays while their students are in other classes,” according to the news release.

The March 2025 early release Wednesday will be on the fourth Wednesday (Mar. 26) due to spring break.

View the full start and dismissal schedule for the 2024-2025 school year with the new ACPS early release Wednesday hours here.

For the ACPS 2024-2025 calendar, click here.

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