Teacher Appreciation Week 2027 runs from Monday, May 3, to Friday, May 7. National Teacher Day, the main day of the week, is Tuesday, May 4, 2027.
The week always falls in the first full week of May, so its dates change each year.
Key takeaways
- Teacher Appreciation Week 2027 is May 3–7, and National Teacher Day is Tuesday, May 4.
- The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) leads the week, and the National Education Association (NEA) leads National Teacher Day.
- National Teacher Day is not the same as World Teachers’ Day, which is Tuesday, October 5, 2027.
- Teacher Appreciation Week 2028 runs from Monday, May 8, to Friday, May 12, with National Teacher Day on Tuesday, May 9.
Teacher Appreciation Week 2027 key facts
| Week | Monday, May 3 – Friday, May 7, 2027 |
|---|---|
| National Teacher Day | Tuesday, May 4, 2027 |
| Rule | First full week of May; National Teacher Day is on Tuesday |
| Led by | National PTA (the week) and the NEA (National Teacher Day) |
| Public holiday? | No; schools stay open |
| World Teachers’ Day | Tuesday, October 5, 2027 (a separate UNESCO day) |
| Next dates | May 8–12, 2028; National Teacher Day Tuesday, May 9, 2028 |
Table of Contents
How are Teacher Appreciation Week dates set
Teacher Appreciation Week is the first full week of May, counting weeks from Sunday to Saturday. Schools mark it on the 5 school days from Monday to Friday, and National Teacher Day falls on the Tuesday.
| Year | Teacher Appreciation Week | National Teacher Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | May 5–9 | Tuesday, May 6 |
| 2026 | May 4–8 | Tuesday, May 5 |
| 2027 | May 3–7 | Tuesday, May 4 |
| 2028 | May 8–12 | Tuesday, May 9 |
| 2029 | May 7–11 | Tuesday, May 8 |
| 2030 | May 6–10 | Tuesday, May 7 |
| 2031 | May 5–9 | Tuesday, May 6 |
| 2032 | May 3–7 | Tuesday, May 4 |
| 2033 | May 2–6 | Tuesday, May 3 |
| 2034 | May 8–12 | Tuesday, May 9 |
| 2035 | May 7–11 | Tuesday, May 8 |
| 2036 | May 5–9 | Tuesday, May 6 |
The earliest week in this period is May 2–6, 2033, when May 1 falls on a Sunday. The latest is May 8–12, in 2028 and 2034, when May 1 falls on a Monday and the first full week starts on May 7. Every 2027 weekday is in the May 2027 calendar.
Some districts and parent groups pick their own week, often to avoid testing dates, so check your school’s calendar.
National Teacher Day 2027
National Teacher Day 2027 is Tuesday, May 4. The NEA marks National Teacher Day on the Tuesday of the first full week of May (Georgia Association of Educators).
The day is also called Teacher Appreciation Day, National Teachers Day, and Teacher’s Day. All of these names point to the same Tuesday in the United States.
National Teacher Day vs. World Teachers’ Day
National Teacher Day is a US day in May; World Teachers’ Day is a worldwide day on October 5. In 2027, World Teachers’ Day falls on a Tuesday.
| National Teacher Day | World Teachers’ Day | |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 date | Tuesday, May 4 | Tuesday, October 5 |
| Rule | Tuesday of the first full week of May | October 5 every year |
| Where | United States | Worldwide |
| Led by | NEA | UNESCO, with UNICEF, the International Labour Organization, and Education International |
| Since | 1985 in May | 1994 |
World Teachers’ Day marks the anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the status of teachers (UNESCO). Many countries also hold their own national Teachers’ Day on a different date.
History of Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week grew out of a push by Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1953, she persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim National Teacher Day, according to the Georgia Association of Educators, an NEA affiliate.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1953 | Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day |
| 1980 | National Teacher Day was set for March 7 after the NEA and its Kansas and Indiana affiliates lobbied Congress |
| 1984 | The National PTA set the first full week of May as Teacher Appreciation Week |
| 1985 | The NEA voted to make the Tuesday of that week National Teacher Day |
The 1980, 1984, and 1985 dates come from Hallmark’s history of the week. The idea itself is older: accounts credit teachers in Wisconsin or Arkansas who wrote to Roosevelt in the 1940s.
Teachers in the United States: numbers and pay
About 4.2 million teachers worked in US schools in 2020–21, the latest count from the NCES. That total includes 3.5 million in traditional public schools, 251,000 in public charter schools, and 466,000 in private schools.
The average public school teacher salary was $74,495 in 2024–25, up 3.5% from the year before. The average starting salary was $48,112, according to NEA figures reported by OPB. After inflation, teachers’ real earnings were estimated to be nearly 5% lower than in 2017.
Those numbers explain why many teachers value practical thanks, such as classroom supplies, as much as cards and flowers.
How to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week 2027
Many schools and parent groups give each day of the week a theme. Here is a simple plan for May 3–7, 2027.
| Day | Date | Idea |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | May 3 | Students bring a handwritten note or drawing |
| Tuesday | May 4 (National Teacher Day) | Parents send a thank-you email copied to the principal |
| Wednesday | May 5 | Parent group provides a staff breakfast or coffee |
| Thursday | May 6 | Students donate classroom supplies from the teacher’s wish list |
| Friday | May 7 | Families chip in for a group gift card |
- Copy the principal: a note that reaches the principal puts the thanks on record.
- Ask about gift rules: some public school districts limit the value of gifts teachers can accept.
- Include support staff: aides, librarians, and counselors often get left out of the week.
What else is happening in the first week of May 2027
Teacher Appreciation Week 2027 shares its dates with several other observances, so schools and workplaces get busy.
| Observance | 2027 date |
|---|---|
| Public Service Recognition Week | Sunday, May 2 – Saturday, May 8 |
| Teacher Appreciation Week | Monday, May 3 – Friday, May 7 |
| National Teacher Day | Tuesday, May 4 |
| Cinco de Mayo | Wednesday, May 5 |
| National Nurses Week | Thursday, May 6 – Wednesday, May 12 |
| Mother’s Day | Sunday, May 9 |
Mother’s Day falls 2 days after the week ends, so families shopping for both can plan one trip. Every appreciation date is in the 2027 appreciation days calendar, and every May observance is in the list of national days in May.
Frequently asked questions
When is Teacher Appreciation Week 2027?
Teacher Appreciation Week 2027 runs from Monday, May 3, to Friday, May 7. It is the first full week of May.
When is National Teacher Day 2027?
National Teacher Day 2027 is Tuesday, May 4, the Tuesday of Teacher Appreciation Week.
Is Teacher Appreciation Day the same as National Teacher Day?
Yes. In the United States, Teacher Appreciation Day and National Teacher Day are the same day: Tuesday, May 4, 2027.
Is there a Teacher Appreciation Month?
No official month exists. The national observance is one week in May, though some schools extend it through the month.
When is World Teachers’ Day 2027?
World Teachers’ Day 2027 is Tuesday, October 5. UNESCO has held it every October 5 since 1994.
When is Teacher Appreciation Week 2028?
Teacher Appreciation Week 2028 runs from Monday, May 8, to Friday, May 12, with National Teacher Day on Tuesday, May 9.
Is school staff appreciation week the same week?
Often, but not always. Many schools thank all staff during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 3–7, 2027, while others set a separate staff week, so check your school’s calendar.
What should I write in a teacher appreciation note?
Name one specific thing the teacher did, such as helping your child with reading or staying after class. A short, specific note means more than a long, general one.
Do schools close for Teacher Appreciation Week?
No. Teacher Appreciation Week is an observance, not a holiday, so schools stay open as normal.
