TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Immersion School will transition to a year-round school calendar beginning August of 2026, Cherokee Nation Language Department officials announced today.
The calendar change aims to curb summer language loss and ensure students maintain consistent exposure to the Cherokee language throughout the year.
The school will retain the standard 180 instructional days, reorganizing the school year to better support language continuity, seasonal learning, family time, and student well-being.
The decision follows two family information sessions held on June 30 and July 2, during which school leadership presented the proposed calendar to parents and caregivers.
After receiving positive feedback and careful consideration, school officials confirmed the new calendar will be implemented for the 2026–27 school year.
Director of Language Services Howard Paden, who oversees the language program and Immersion School, said the move reflects the Cherokee Nation Administration’s unwavering commitment to Cherokee language revitalization.
“The year-round calendar marks a significant advancement in how we deliver immersion education to our children. By extending instruction across the full year, we give our students consistent, uninterrupted engagement with the Cherokee language. This calendar reflects our commitment to raising a new generation of fluent speakers who will carry our language and culture forward," Paden said.
Principal Jeromie Hammer emphasized the direct impact that extended breaks can have on second-language learners.
"Language is our identity and a vital component of who we are as Cherokee people, and every additional day of immersion strengthens that connection for our students. The year-round calendar allows us to build on the momentum of our growing program and ensures our children never lose ground in their learning. We're grateful for the support from our leadership and resources that make this progress possible for future generations," said Jeromie Hammer, principal of Cherokee Immersion School.
The calendar change is the latest in a series of significant developments for the school. Cherokee Immersion School has recently adopted a new land-based curriculum, welcomed a newly formed advisory board, and completed a historic transition to become a wholly independent Cherokee Nation-operated school.
In June 2026, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed amended legislation under the Durbin Feeling Language Preservation Act, replacing the school's state charter with tribal government oversight and establishing the Cherokee Nation Immersion Education Advisory Board.
cara-memahami-house-edge-di-casinoSince its founding in 2001, the school has grown into a cornerstone of the Cherokee Nation's language revitalization efforts. The school in Tahlequah serves more than 140 students each school year from baby immersion through eighth grade. A newly constructed Immersion Middle School opens this fall.
The new year-round calendar is expected to strengthen the fluency outcomes central to its mission. The new school year starts on August 27.
Cherokee Immersion School (ᏧᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ, Tsunadeloquasdi) is a Cherokee Nation-operated language school in the Durbin Feeling Language Center in Tahlequah and with a program in the Greasy community of Adair County. It is provisionally accredited by the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC). For more information, visit www.cwyschools.org