Academic Calendar & School Hours Policy

digiTIES / The Islamic Education School District Academic Calendar & School Hours Policy ADM-003 · Administrative · Policy & Procedure

Policy Number	ADM-003
Category	Administrative
Effective Date	2026–2027 School Year
Last Reviewed	March 2026
Next Review Due	December 2026
Approved By	Principal, digiTIES
Standards	WASC A6, A1 · NSQ D1 · CA Ed Code §48980
Policy Contact	Principal – principal@digities.org
Scope	All enrolled students and families, Grades 1–12
Replaces	Hours of Operation and Scheduled Closures sections – TIES USA Family Handbook 2024–2025

Policy Overview

Purpose & Statement

This policy establishes the official academic calendar, school hours, scheduled closures, and early dismissal procedures for digiTIES. The academic calendar is published annually and communicated to all families at the start of the school year. The school calendar reflects both California academic requirements and the Islamic holidays recognized by digiTIES.

Scope & Who This Applies To

This policy applies to all enrolled students in Grades 1–12 and their families. All staff are responsible for adhering to the published academic calendar.

School Hours

Day	Session Type	Hours
Monday–Friday	Live sessions	Per student roster schedule
Friday	Asynchronous coursework	Self-paced; work due by end of day

Individual session times are published on each student’s course roster in TEAMS at the start of each semester. Classes begin promptly at the scheduled start time.

Annual Academic Calendar

The full academic calendar is published in the family resource library and communicated to all families via email at the start of each school year. The calendar includes:

• First and last day of the academic year
• All scheduled school closures – Islamic holidays and observed non-school days
• Scheduled early dismissal days
• Report card and parent conference dates
• School-wide events (Recognition Ceremony, Family Nights, etc.)

Islamic Holidays & Observances

digiTIES recognizes and honors the following Islamic days and events. Families will be notified in advance of whether school will be closed or modified on each observance:

• Eid al-Adha (including the three days of Tashriq)
• Ramadan – schedule adjustments communicated annually based on calendar
• Eid al-Fitr
• Day of Arafah
• Al-Hijrah and Ashura
• Mawlid of the Prophet ï·º
• Al-Isra wal-Miraj

Parents will be notified of whether time will be taken off for these days prior to their onset. Islamic holiday observances are included in the published annual calendar.

School Closures – Weather & Emergency

In the event that severe weather, technical outages, or other emergency conditions prevent school from operating:

• Families will be notified via email, WhatsApp text by 6:00 a.m. EST on the day of closure.
• For internet or platform outages affecting digiTIES, school may be canceled or converted to asynchronous for the part/ all day.
• If early closure is necessary during the school day, families and emergency contacts will be notified as soon as possible.

Early Dismissal

Early dismissal dates are published on the annual calendar. On early dismissal days, live sessions end earlier than the standard schedule. The modified schedule for each early dismissal day is communicated to families email at least one week in advance.

Calendar Changes

The principal may modify the academic calendar when necessary due to unforeseen circumstances. All changes will be communicated to families via email with as much advance notice as possible – minimum 48 hours except in emergency situations.

Standards & Legal Alignment

Standard / Law	Reference	How This Policy Addresses It
ACS WASC 2026	Standards A6, A1	School calendar and operational schedule aligned with mission; clearly communicated to stakeholders annually.
NSQ Online Programs 2025	Standard D1	Accurate information about program schedule, policies, and calendar made available to all stakeholders.
CA Education Code	§48980	Annual parent notification of school calendar, instructional days, and relevant schedule information.
digiTIES 1–3 Year Plan	Goal: Academic Excellence	Consistent instructional days and clear schedule communication support mastery-based learning outcomes.

Related Policies & Documents

• ADM-001 – Enrollment & Admissions Policy
• ADM-002 – Attendance Policy
• ADM-004 – Communication & Family Engagement Policy
• STU-002 – Student Behavior & Discipline Policy

Annual Policy Review Log

Per NSQ Standard C4 and ACS WASC Standard A6, all policies must be reviewed annually with documented stakeholder input and governing body approval.

Date	Revised By	Approved By	Summary of Changes
03.2026	Manal Nachef	Principal / Board	Initial adoption

digiTIES Vision, Mission & Values – Policy Alignment Reference

VISION By 2030, digiTIES will stand among the world’s most respected virtual schools – a premier destination for Muslim youth seeking rigorous academics, global opportunity, and a community rooted in faith and integrity.

MISSION digiTIES delivers a rigorous, WASC-accredited virtual education that prepares Muslim youth for competitive university pathways and meaningful futures. We combine academic excellence, innovative digital learning, and a values-driven community rooted in the Islamic tradition to develop confident, ethical, and future-ready leaders.

CORE VALUES ALIGNMENT Before adoption, confirm this policy supports: Academic excellence · Islamic values · Digital innovation · Student agency · Community partnership · Continuous improvement