Key Dates and Structure
The school year is set to officially open on June 8, 2026, and will conclude on April 8, 2027. Instead of the traditional four quarters, the year is now divided into three distinct terms:
Term 1: June 8 – September 15, 2026
Term 2: September 16 – December 18, 2026
Term 3: January 4 – April 8, 2027
🪜 The New "Learning Blocks"
Each term is divided into three segments to help pace the workload for both students and teachers:
Opening Block: The first few days are dedicated to orientations and diagnostic assessments.
Instructional Block: A solid 54–61 days of uninterrupted teaching and learning.
End-of-Term Block: A dedicated two-week window for term exams, remediation (enrichment), grade computation, and—importantly—a wellness break for teachers.
🔎 Why the Change?
DepEd's goal with this transition is to address long-standing "learning gaps" caused by the previous four-quarter system:
📌 Reduced Administrative Burden: Fewer sets of exams and reports (3 instead of 4).
📌 Uninterrupted Instruction: It provides longer stretches of teaching time without the constant "start-stop" of quarterly assessments.
📌 Teacher Recovery: The new structure formally builds in breaks for checking school forms and wellness, which were previously squeezed between quarters.
📰 What’s Happening Now?
Since the order was just released, DepEd is currently in the "Orientation Phase":
✅️ April 2026: Orientations are currently being held for Regional and Division officials.
✅️ May 2026: Master teachers and classroom teachers will receive their orientations next month to prepare for the June opening.
✅️ Assessment Transition: New guidelines on how grades will be computed under a three-term system are expected to be released before the June 8 opening.
🗒 Note for Teachers: DepEd has clarified that these May orientations are scheduled so that teachers can still fully observe their 30-day mandatory break this April