The time to go back to school is not far off. Here’s What You Should Know
South Florida is home to over 1,000 public schools in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
From new laws to a new superintendent, it’s about a month before school resumes and changes take place.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
MDCPS is the third largest school district in America.
The first day of school is Thursday, August 17th.
To access the full academic calendar, click here.
New to Miami-Dade County? Enter your address here to see what school options you have.
Broward County Public Schools
This academic year, BCPS welcomes a new Superintendent, Dr. Peter Licata.
Classes will begin on Monday, August 21st.
To access the full academic calendar, click here.
New to Broward County? Enter your address here to see what school options you have.
Palm Beach County School District
Classes begin on Thursday, August 10th.
To view the academic calendar for 2023-2024, click here.
New to Palm Beach County? Enter your address here to see what school options you have.
New rules and laws affecting the 2023-24 school year
School vouchers (HB 1)
Income requirements that were part of previous programs will be removed and all students will be eligible for taxpayer-backed vouchers.
Students are eligible for vouchers if they are “residents of this state” and “qualify for kindergarten through grade 12” of a public school.
Students whose family income is less than 185% of the federal poverty level, or approximately $51,000 for a family of four, receive first priority. This is followed by students whose family incomes range from 185% of the living wage to 400% of the living wage, which is about $111,000 for a family of four.
“Don’t Say Period” (HB 1069)
Teachers will no longer be allowed to respect a student’s preferred pronouns if they do not match the student’s biological gender.
The bill also bans the teaching of the menstrual cycle in public schools until sixth grade, and sexual orientation and gender identity cannot be taught in schools until eighth grade.
During sex education classes, teachers should emphasize abstinence outside of marriage and teach “the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage.”
Requirements for the premises depending on gender (HB 1521)
Students will be required to use the toilet according to the gender assigned to them at birth.
The bill covers restrooms at public colleges and universities, K-12 schools, correctional facilities, and domestic violence centers.
Enforcement of School Bus Overtaking Rules (SB 766)
School districts will have the right to place and monitor cameras on the outside of buses to document drivers who illegally pass by a bus when it has a stop sign.
Consequences will be applied to those drivers who are caught, resulting in a minimum fine of $200.
Student Online Privacy Protection Act (SB 662)
Students’ personal information and data collected through educational technology will not be used for targeted advertising..
In addition, companies will no longer be able to use student data for anything that is not educational.
