In the 2007-2008 school year classes will begin on August 27 and end on May 29, 2008.  Teachers will begin on August 16 allowing seven campus days prior to the arrival of students to more closely balance the instruction days of the two semesters.  Input from a variety of teacher and parent groups favored ending the first semester prior to the Christmas holiday break.

The Texas Legislature mandated schools begin no earlier than the fourth Monday of August, which will be August 27 in 2007. LISD classes began on August 14 in 2006.  With TAKS testing expected to be administered at the same time as previous years, schools will have ten fewer days of instruction time to prepare students. LISD administration raised concern that extending the school year into June would jeopardize use of the United Spirit Arena for graduation exercises. It would also create conflict for students and teachers planning to attend summer school at Texas Tech with the first summer term scheduled to begin May 28, 2008.

Board President Gordon Wilkerson said the calendar was not the ideal calendar trustees would like to offer the community, but was the best compromise in light of the state mandates.