April Cultural Observances

Here is a list of our April recognitions and cultural observances. To learn more, visit our ACPS Recognitions and Cultural Observances web page.

National Volunteer Month – Recognizes the contributions of volunteers and inspires others to give back. It is also a time to celebrate the power of volunteering to build communities and enrich lives. 

VSBA Workforce Readiness Month – Emphasizes the importance of workforce development opportunities that prepare students for success in today’s economy. The Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) designated April as VSBA Workforce Readiness Month.

Visit www.vsba.org/resources/initiatives/workforce-readiness-month/ for more information.

School Library Month – Celebrates school librarians and their programs that transform learning. Sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians. www.ala.org/aasl/slm. #AASLslm

National Poetry Month – Founded by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is the largest literary celebration in the world, involving tens of millions of readers, writers, librarians, teachers and poets. Visit www.poets.org/national-poetry-month. #NationalPoetryMonth

National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month – Since 2006, the United States has recognized April as National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month. Bilingual and multilingual learners are one of the fastest growing student populations. In 2025, this month will recognize the diversity of languages, cultures and achievements of multilingual learners. #MultilingualAdvocacy

National Arab Heritage Month – This month celebrates the rich and diverse culture and contributions of Arab Americans. #NationalArabAmericanHeritageMonth and/or #NAAHM

Month of the Military Child/Purple Up Day – This month recognizes our resilient military-connected children. Purple Up! Day is celebrated on April 15, 2025, and Virginia has designated April 19, 2025, as the official state-day of recognition. https://vawarmemorial.org/april-is-the-month-of-the-military-child/#MOMC #PurpleUp

World Autism Month - This month is set apart as an opportunity to learn how to help the one in 54 children on the autism spectrum.

Week of the Young Child: (April 5-11, 2025) – This week focuses attention on the importance of the early years for children's learning and development. Sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Visit www.naeyc.org. #WOYC25

National Library Week: (April 6-12, 2025) – To promote the use and support of libraries. Sponsored by the American Library Association. Visit www.ala.org  #NationalLibraryWeek

National Assistant Principals Week: (April 7-11, 2025) – A week to recognize assistant principals and their contributions to the success of students across the nation. Visit https://www.nassp.org/national-assistant-principals-week/. #APWeek

Public School Volunteer Week/National Volunteer Week: (April 20-26, 2025) – To encourage parents and citizens to volunteer in their public schools. The 2025 theme for National Volunteer Week is "Connecting Communities." This week-long celebration honors volunteers and the contributions they make to their communities. Visit www.projectappleseed.org. #NVW #PublicSchoolVolunteerWeek

Administrative Professionals Week/Administrative Professionals Day: (April 21-25/April 23, 2025) – Observed to recognize the contributions of administrative support staff in the workplace and to encourage professional development. Visit www.iaap-hq.org. #AdministrativeProfessionalsWeek and #ThnxACPSAdmins

National Student Leadership Week: (April 24-30, 2025) – Sponsored by the National Student Council, National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society to encourage and recognize the many student leaders in our nation's schools. Visit https://www.studentleadershipweek.org/. #NSLW2025

International Children’s Book Day: (April 2, 2025) – Observed on Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, this day inspires a love of reading in our youngest scholars. Sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People.

Paraprofessionals Appreciation Day: (April 2, 2025) – Celebrated annually on the first Wednesday of April, Paraprofessionals Appreciation Day is an opportunity to honor paraprofessional educators. For more information: www.aft.org  #ParaprofessionalAppreciationDay

Earl Lloyd’s Birthday: (April 3, 2025) – An Alexandria, Virginia native, Earl Lloyd was the first Black athlete to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) league.

World Health Day: (April 7, 2025) – Celebrated on this day each year to emphasize significant issues in public health of worldwide concern. Sponsored by the World Health Organization. Visit www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day

VSBA Workforce Readiness Day: (April 16, 2025) – The Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) designated April as VSBA Workforce Readiness Month, with April 16, 2025, recognized as Workforce Readiness Day in Virginia.

Earth Day: (April 22, 2025) – More than a billion people take action on behalf of the environment on Earth Day each year. Visit www.earthday.org. #EarthDay and #InvestInOurPlanet

National Arbor Day: (April 25, 2025) – This is a day to encourage people to plant and care for trees. Visit www.arborday.org