MEMORANDUM
TO: High School Administrators
FROM: School Leadership and Support
DATE: September 29, 2026
RE: Updated 2027–28 Master Schedule Timeline
Purpose
This memo shares the updated timeline for building 2027–28 master schedules. The timeline has two goals: to build master schedules that prioritize students' needs and interests, and to reduce the confusion, frustration, and long waits that students and families have experienced while schedules are finalized in the fall.
Meeting these goals depends on every step being anticipated and planned for well in advance. Please review the full timeline with your counseling team and front office staff, build these dates into your school calendar now, and plan your communication to students and families around each milestone.
Key Dates at a Glance
- Oct. 8, 2026: IT training on electronic course requests; school setup due by Nov. 15.
- Nov. 16 – Dec. 18, 2026: Students complete course requests in PowerSchool.
- Apr. 23, 2027, 5:00 PM: PowerScheduler closes for high schools.
- Apr. 26 – May 17, 2027: ClassChoice open for students by grade level.
- May 27 – 28, 2027: Students leave school with a tentative 2027–28 schedule.
- May 28 – June 4, 2027: Counselors adjust student schedules.
- July 15 – Aug. 6, 2027: Student schedule adjustments during registration.
Complete Timeline
Bolded rows are hard deadlines or student-facing windows that require advance planning.
| Date(s) | Milestone | Lead |
| Current Year: 2026–27 Semester 2 | ||
| Dec. 7 – 18, 2026 | Students use ClassChoice to fill holes in Semester 2 schedules | Students / Counselors |
| Phase 1: Preparation (September – November 2026) | ||
| By Sept. 18, 2026 | Master Schedule Timeline meeting with high school administration | District / HS Admin |
| Oct. 8, 2026 | IT trains school administration on setting up electronic course requests in PowerSchool | IT |
| By Nov. 15, 2026 | Schools complete electronic course request setup | HS Admin |
| Nov. 2, 2026 | Enrollment projections and FTE allocations completed | Sam Quantz |
| Nov. 30, 2026 | All requests for new courses completed | HS Admin |
| Nov. 30, 2026 | Preliminary budgets released (subject to adjustment) | District |
| Phase 2: Student Course Requests (November 2026 – January 2027) | ||
| Nov. 16 – Dec. 18, 2026 | Students complete course requests using the PowerSchool electronic course request system | Students / Counselors |
| By Jan. 15, 2027 | Counselors enter all paper course requests (paper requests only in certain circumstances) | Counselors |
| Phase 3: Master Schedule Build (January – March 2027) | ||
| Jan. 5 – 20, 2027 | CTC builds its schedule | CTC |
| ~Jan. 19 – 22, 2027 | Master Build Workshop; high schools begin building (subject to Phoenix Learning Systems availability) | HS Admin / PLS |
| Jan. – Feb. 2027 | Schools build 2027–28 master schedules | HS Admin |
| Feb. 3, 2027 | Follow-up enrollment projection to determine whether adjustments are needed | Sam Quantz |
| March 2027 | Schools make schedule adjustments based on staffing decisions | HS Admin |
| Phase 4: Loading and Student Choice (March – May 2027) | ||
| March – Apr. 23, 2027 (5:00 PM) | Load student requests against schedules and make adjustments; ClassChoice is configured during this time | HS Admin / Counselors |
| Mar. 16 – 26, 2027 | Master Schedule Load Open Workshop (Phoenix Learning Systems available for a portion) | HS Admin / PLS |
| Apr. 23, 2027, 5:00 PM | PowerScheduler closes for high schools. All counselor/admin changes after this point must be made in ClassChoice. | HS Admin / Counselors |
| Apr. 26 – 29, 2027 | ClassChoice open: current 11th grade | Students |
| Apr. 30 – May 5, 2027 | ClassChoice open: current 10th grade | Students |
| May 6 – 11, 2027 | ClassChoice open: current 9th grade | Students |
| May 12 – 17, 2027 | ClassChoice open: current 8th grade | Students |
| Phase 5: Finalizing Schedules (May – August 2027) | ||
| May 18, 2027 | ClassChoice data pushed back to PowerSchool | IT |
| May 18 – June 7, 2027 | Schools may work in PowerScheduler (no loading) | HS Admin |
| May 27 – 28, 2027 | Students leave school with a tentative 2027–28 schedule | Schools |
| May 28 – June 4, 2027 | Counselors adjust student schedules in PowerSchool | Counselors |
| June 7, 2027 | PowerScheduler closes | IT |
| June 8 – July 14, 2027 | IT commits schedules and transitions PowerSchool to the new year | IT |
| July 15 – Aug. 6, 2027 | Students may adjust schedules during the school registration window | Students / Counselors |
Planning for Counselor Work Schedules
Counselors carry much of the student-facing work in this timeline. Please plan their calendars around the following:
- Summer extra days. All high school counselors should plan to use 5 of their 10 extra work days before their contract starts and 5 after their contract ends. Please confirm the specific dates with each counselor this fall, keeping in mind the May 28 – June 4 schedule adjustment window and the July 15 – Aug. 6 registration window.
- December overlap. The 2026–27 Semester 2 ClassChoice window (Dec. 7 – 18) runs at the same time as the final two weeks of 2027–28 course requests. Plan for extra counselor coverage and student support during these weeks.
- Paper requests. Paper requests should be used only in certain circumstances, and counselors must have all of them entered by Jan. 15, 2027. Build time for data entry into January counselor schedules.
- After April 23. Once PowerScheduler closes, all counselor and admin changes must be made in ClassChoice. Make sure counselors are trained and ready before the first ClassChoice window opens on April 26.
- Spring windows. ClassChoice runs by grade level from April 26 through May 17. Counselors should be available to assist each grade during its window, and 8th grade students will likely need coordination with middle schools.
Communication to Students and Families
Clear, early communication is the most effective way to reduce confusion. Each school should plan messages at the checkpoints below. These are recommended send dates; adjust to fit your school's communication calendar.
| Send by | Message to students and families |
| Early Nov. 2026 | Course requests open Nov. 16 and close Dec. 18. Explain how to access PowerSchool, where to find course descriptions, and whom to contact for help. Remind current students of the Dec. 7 – 18 Semester 2 ClassChoice window. |
| Early Dec. 2026 | Reminder that course requests close Dec. 18. Share how families can request help if they cannot complete requests electronically. |
| Early Apr. 2027 | Announce ClassChoice dates by grade level, what students will be able to do in ClassChoice, and how to prepare. |
| Day before each grade's window | Grade-specific reminder with opening and closing dates for that window. |
| Late May 2027 | Students receive a tentative schedule May 27 – 28. Explain that it is tentative, that counselors will make adjustments through June 4, and that final changes can be requested July 15 – Aug. 6. |
| Early July 2027 | Registration window reminder (July 15 – Aug. 6) and the process for requesting schedule changes. |
Administrator Action Checklist
- Build all timeline dates into the school master calendar.
- Send an administrator or designee to the Oct. 8 PowerSchool training.
- Complete electronic course request setup in PowerSchool by Nov. 15.
- Submit all new course requests by Nov. 30.
- Confirm counselor extra-day schedules for summer 2027.
- Schedule attendance for the Master Build Workshop (~Jan. 19 – 22) and the Master Schedule Load Open Workshop (Mar. 16 – 26).
- Assign responsibility for each student and family communication checkpoint.
- Coordinate with feeder middle schools on the 8th grade ClassChoice window (May 12 – 17).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: We have already scheduled visits to our feeder middle schools to help incoming 9th grade students. What if those dates don't fit this timeline?
A: Middle school visits may need to be rescheduled to align with this timeline. Please plan visits so incoming 9th grade students receive support during the course request window (Nov. 16 – Dec. 18, 2026) and, as appropriate, their ClassChoice window (May 12 – 17, 2027).
Q: Our counselors prefer to complete CCRs with students before entering course requests. Can we continue this practice?
A: Course requests may be entered before a student's CCR meeting. If the CCR conversation identifies needed changes, the student's requests can be updated afterward. This keeps course requests on schedule while preserving the CCR process.
Q: How can we complete the schedule on time while still meeting our other responsibilities?
A: Building the master schedule is a priority and should be integrated into regular work tasks rather than treated as additional work. Counselors are encouraged to meet with their administrators to determine whether any current job tasks can be given a lower priority.
Q: WIDA scores are not available until May. How do we place English language learners (ELLs) in the correct classes?
A: Schedule ELL students based on the best information available at the time of course requests. Once WIDA scores are released, review placements and adjust schedules as needed, such as during the counselor adjustment window (May 28 – June 4, 2027).
Q: Staffing will not be finalized until February. How can we build the schedule without knowing who will fill each position?
A: Build sections for unfilled or undetermined positions with the teacher listed as TBA. Once staffing decisions are made, update those sections with the assigned teachers. The timeline allows time for staffing-related adjustments in March 2027.
Questions
Please direct questions about this timeline to your Area Director or Sam Quantz. Thank you for your partnership in building schedules that serve our students well.
