Appleton Area School District families,

Here’s a quick look at what’s ahead in AASD. In this edition, you’ll find important upcoming dates and reminders, opportunities to learn more about the April 7 operational referendum—including information sessions and videos—details on enrolling in Appleton Community 4K, and ways to support our students through events like Solo & Ensemble and the districtwide hygiene drive. 

We’re also sharing information about Summer School, the 2026–27 school year calendar, health guidance for when to keep your child home, high school college credit program deadlines, and local community opportunities for students.

We invite you to take a few minutes to browse the updates below and stay connected to all that’s happening across our schools. Miss a Family Communication? Find them all here.

Important Upcoming Dates (Find our yearly calendar here.)

• Monday, February 16, 2026: No school for AASD neighborhood schools
• Wednesday, February 18, 2026: IEP 101: Understanding Your Child’s IEP
• Friday, February 20, 2026: Charter School Application Cutoff Date
• Saturday, February 21, 2026: Educator Recruitment Event
• Friday, March 27 through April 6, 2026: No school for AASD neighborhood schools
  • Charter schools and Appleton Central programs may follow their own calendars; please refer to your school or program calendar.

Ways to Learn about the April 7 Operational Referendum

On April 7, our community will vote on an operational referendum seeking $15 million per year for four years. The estimated tax impact is  $15 per year for a $100,000 home, or $45 per year for the average Appleton-area home valued at $300,000.

If approved, the referendum would support:

• maintaining current district operations, programs, and services, and preventing cuts caused by funding shortfalls
• providing a full-time school counselor and increased social worker time at all neighborhood schools

We invite our community to join us for an upcoming Referendum Information Session. Each session will feature a presentation and an opportunity to ask questions. These sessions are designed to provide clear, factual information and ensure community members feel informed ahead of the April election. In addition to seven in-person opportunities, we've added two virtual session dates.

• Friday, February 13, 6:30 p.m. at Einstein Middle School – Commons 324 E. Florida Ave.
• Wednesday, February 18, 6:30 p.m. Virtual Session Via Zoom
• Sunday, February 22, 1:00 p.m. at the AASD Welcome Center, 2701 North Oneida Street, Suite C3
• Thursday, March 12, 6:30 p.m. at Wilson Middle School - Multi-Purpose Room
• Sunday, March 15, 1:00 p.m. at Einstein Middle School – Commons 324 E. Florida Ave
• Thursday, March 19, 6:30 p.m. Virtual Session Via Zoom
• Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 p.m. at the AASD Welcome Center, 2701 North Oneida Street, Suite C3

We’ll also keep adding more informational videos to help everyone stay informed. You’ll be able to find them all on our referendum webpage, where you’ll also find an FAQ and a place to submit any questions you may have. We’re here to help and want to make sure you have the information you need.

• Check out this video to hear Superintendent Hartjes address a common concern he hears from community members: why property taxes seem to increase year after year. Using state-level data and real, historical property tax records from local taxpayers, he walks through what has actually changed over time—and what hasn’t. This video will help viewers better understand how school property taxes fit into the broader picture of income, inflation, and public services.

• Superintendent Hartjes provides an in-depth explanation of how the district’s financial crisis unfolded. In this video, he outlines the key factors that led to growing deficits, including state funding that consistently fell short of inflation, rising costs for special education, cybersecurity, and healthcare, and the challenges of retaining staff in a competitive labor market.

2026-2027 Appleton Community 4K Enrollment is Now Open

Will your child be four years old by September 1, 2026? Appleton Community 4K offers a high-quality, play-based learning experience where children build a strong foundation for school through creativity, curiosity, problem-solving, and exploration. Guided by highly qualified teachers, our program supports early literacy, math, and social-emotional skills while meeting children where they are and fostering a lifelong love of learning.

Visit the 4K website to explore 4K sites, watch informational videos, and connect with our community partners. Need help enrolling? Call the Enrollment Office at (920) 852-5308. Questions about 4K? Contact the 4K Office at (920) 852-5600 or email community-4k@aasd.k12.wi.us. 

Music Parents & Community Volunteer Opportunity

Appleton East High School is proud to host the District’s Annual Solo & Ensemble Festival this year—and we’re looking for volunteers to help make it a success! Over 100 volunteers are needed to support this important event for our student musicians.

Through the Solo & Ensemble experience, students build the discipline of rehearsal, challenge themselves to advance their musical skills, perform for an audience and adjudicator, and receive valuable feedback on their performances. 

If your student participates in fine arts, we strongly encourage at least one adult from each family to volunteer. Community members are also welcome! Sign up here. 

Festival Dates: (If you plan to observe your student’s performance, please keep these dates in mind when signing up.)

• Choir & Piano: Saturday, February 28, 2026
• Band: Friday & Saturday, March 6–7, 2026

Thank you for supporting the Appleton East High School Music Department and helping our students shine!

2026 Summer School Information

The Appleton Area School District will offer Summer School programs for elementary, middle, and high school students in June and July 2026. Students will have opportunities to explore a wide range of courses, including art, science, cooking, math, reading, outdoor games, and more.

Elementary School Summer School runs from Tuesday, June 9 – Friday, July 3 (no school on June 19) from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Middle School from Tuesday, June 9 – Friday, July 3 (no school on June 19) from 8:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. High School Credit Recovery / Option 1 at East High School runs from Monday, June 8 – Friday, June 26.

Registration will open on April 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Elementary and middle school families will register online through the Parent Portal. Students interested in High School Summer School should contact their school counselor for registration information.

Additional details about summer school courses and registration can be found here. If you have questions, please contact the Summer School Office at (920) 852-5332.

Hygiene Drive Kicks Off Soon

This year, all AASD schools will be participating in the annual Fox Cities “Help for the Homeless” hygiene drive. Schools will be collecting NEW hygiene and cleaning items between February 23 and March 13, 2026. Please send your donations to school with your student, or drop them off in the collection box located at your student’s school. 

The most frequently needed items are

• laundry detergent
• hand soap
• dish soap
• shampoo/conditioner (especially children’s products)
• cleaning supplies
• toilet paper
• deodorant

Donations received at our AASD collection sites are used within our AASD school community to stock our Basic Needs Care Closet for students/families in need. These donations are also the primary source of hygiene products provided to students and families experiencing homelessness. Learn more here.

2026-27 School Year Calendar Approved

The calendar for the 2026-27 school year was recently approved by our Board of Education. Meeting all State requirements, the calendar ensures instructional minutes and a post-September 1st start date. The approved calendar allocates surplus minutes to accommodate the potential cancellation of two school days due to severe weather conditions and ends the academic year during the first week of June. View and download next year’s school calendar here.

Health Guidance for Going to School

We know it’s not always easy to decide if your child is sick enough to stay home or well enough to be in school. We also know that showing up every day is critical for children’s well-being, engagement, and learning. We encourage our families to send their students to school if they are generally healthy and are participating in usual day-to-day activities. Learn more about whether your child is well enough to attend school here.

Start College Now/Early College Credit/Request for High School Credit Program Deadlines

AASD offers three programs for eligible high school students wanting to enroll in courses through two- or four-year participating colleges or universities in Wisconsin. 

The deadline to enroll in a spring semester course is October 1 of each academic school year. The deadline to enroll in a summer course is February 1 of each academic school year.  The deadline to enroll in a fall semester course is March 1 of each academic school year. If you have any questions, please reach out to your School Counselor. The requirements are included below:

Start College Now: Available to 11th- and 12th-grade students enrolled in Wisconsin Technical Colleges, this program requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the time of eligibility determination. Summer courses are not eligible, and students may not participate in both the Start College Now Program and the Early College Credit Program at the same time.

Early College Credit Program: Available to students in grades 9–12, this program allows enrollment in University of Wisconsin System institutions, tribally controlled colleges, and private nonprofit colleges (excluding Wisconsin Technical Colleges) and requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the time of eligibility determination. Summer courses are eligible, but students may not participate in both the Start College Now Program and the Early College Credit Program at the same time.

Request for High School Credit: Learning takes place outside the school day, on the student’s own time and at their own expense. AASD will review the opportunity and decide if high school credit will be awarded, and in what amount.

Community Opportunities for Students

Each month, the AASD shares local community opportunities for students. These community opportunities for students include upcoming events and activities such as art and music camps, youth athletics, cultural events, enriching programs, and more. We encourage our families to review these opportunities for students of all ages. Check out this page anytime for a current list of opportunities.