MCPS Shifts Spring Break to April

In a 6-3 vote Tuesday night, Trustees for Missoula County Public Schools voted to shift Spring break to April.

Historically, MCPS has aligned their spring break with the University of Montana, placing it typically in the middle of March, three weeks before the end of the term. Not only did this not align with many neighboring school districts, teachers had requested a considering a shift to ease the academic flow with previous spring breaks falling three weeks before the end of term and leaving a long nine week stretch to reach the end of the school year.

A survey to the MCPS community recently went out asking for a simple vote between March and April spring breaks, admittedly with little context as to the pros and cons of each scenario. Although adult voters favored the earlier March spring break, ultimately teachers and staff preferred the later spring break.

According to a Instagram story from Trustee Jenny Walsh: “After much discussion considering sports, other districts, and the University schedule, a 6-3 board vote saw April chosen for next year.

Parks and Rec will shift to align childcare coverage and we may even see an eventual shift from the University.

If everyone hates this, we CAN shift it back to March in 2027.”

A draft version of the 2025-2026 MCPS Elementary calendar can be viewed here https://storage.googleapis.com/pt04-1/messages/attachments/3cbc75f62ada05f1e5e7003cde67d112/2025-2026_Elementary_Calendar_DRAFT_April_Break.pdf