letivo

Letivo is a Portuguese term used to describe the instructional period of an educational institution. The expression "ano letivo" (school year) refers to the annual cycle of teaching, assessments, and related administrative tasks within a given institution. The letivo period is governed by a calendar that outlines start and end dates, vacations, holidays, and days reserved for staff development or exams. In some contexts, the calendar is called calendario letivo or calendario escolar.

The structure of the letivo year varies by country and level of education. In Brazil, the letivo calendar is usually set by state or municipal education authorities, with the year commonly beginning in February or March and ending in December; it may include mid-year breaks or regional holidays and a defined period for examinations. In Portugal, the academic year generally runs from September to June, with Christmas and Easter breaks, and schools may operate on trimesters or semesters, following guidance from the Ministério da Educação. In higher education, universities and polytechnics likewise organize the year into semesters or terms, sometimes including a summer term or intensive courses.

The concept also distinguishes from the civil or calendar year, which is the arbitrarily fixed 12-month period of January to December. The letivo year is specifically oriented to instruction, holidays, and evaluation cycles.

See also: calendario escolar, periodo letivo, feriados escolares, recesso escolar, ano civil.