March 28 will be an early release day for most District 191 students

On Friday, March 28, District 191 will have an “Early Release” day. This means the school day will end 2.5 hours earlier than normal for all students in grades K-12 to provide time for teacher and staff professional development. 

This means that:

• Burnsville High School and BEST Transition Program will dismiss students at 12:06 p.m.
• Burnsville Alternative High School will dismiss students at 11:56 a.m.
• Middle schools, including Virtual Academy, will dismiss students at noon.
• Elementary schools, including Virtual Academy, will dismiss students at 1:25 p.m.

Schools will send specific schedules and additional information directly to families. 

Families can expect that bus drop off times will be 2.5 hours earlier than normal in the afternoon. 

Early Learning

• Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) will be canceled.
• Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes will take place as normal. 
• Ready-to-Grow/Ready-to-Learn licensed childcare will take place as normal.

Before- and after-school programming

• Project KIDS will be open before school, but there will be no Project KIDS after school.
• PALS will be closed.
• BYC will be closed.
• High school athletics practices may be held as normal or cancelled.  High school athletics competitions will be held as scheduled. Check with your coach for details. Students must leave school at dismissal and return for practice and/or competition accordingly (if applicable).

This change was approved by the Board of Education and announced in August 2024 to provide time for teachers to participate in training related to the state’s READ Act, which establishes new science-of-reading literacy instruction, curriculum and related professional development. 

The district will hold another Early Release day on Friday, May 2.