Florida Districts Set School Closures for October 12 Holiday

Florida school districts followed different schedules on October 12, 2026, as counties decided whether schools would close, hold classes, or begin fall break for the federal Columbus Day holiday. The variations came from local calendar decisions because Florida does not formally observe the holiday statewide.

According to Tallahassee.com, most districts used the date for teacher planning or professional development, while some kept campuses open for regular instruction. Individual school boards set their own academic calendars across the state.

Districts including Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, DeSoto, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hardee, Highlands, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Lee, Liberty, Madison, Martin, Miami-Dade, Polk, Sumter, Taylor and Union had schedules that included regular classes or staff workdays.

Tallahassee.com reported that Alachua and Miami-Dade were among the districts holding regular classes on October 12. Union scheduled a teacher workday closure rather than a student attendance day.

Many districts scheduled closures for staff planning or professional development, including Bay, Brevard, Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Leon, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Seminole, St. Johns and other counties listed by Tallahassee.com.

Glades and Hendry counties began fall break on October 12, while Gulf and Washington counties scheduled fall break for October 12-13. Santa Rosa and Escambia counties also announced closures while officials assessed damage linked to Hurricane Isaias, according to Tallahassee.com.

The federal holiday is observed on the second Monday of October and was recognized on October 12 in 2026. Tallahassee.com reported that Florida treats the date as one of 21 legal holidays, allowing local governments and school districts to decide their own observance.

The holiday also affected some national services. According to Tallahassee.com, federal offices and banks closed, and the U.S. Postal Service suspended regular mail delivery for the observance.

School calendar differences extended beyond Florida. NJ.com reported that many public school districts across the United States closed for Columbus Day or used the date as a teacher workday, while others remained open.

NJ.com reported that public schools in Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and New York City were among those that closed for the holiday. California did not recognize Columbus Day as a statewide holiday, with charter, private and parochial schools able to follow separate calendars.

In Ithaca, New York, 14850.com reported that municipal offices and county departments closed for Indigenous Peoples' Day, also known as the Columbus Day federal holiday. Local waste and transportation services followed separate schedules, with some operations continuing normally.