Students seen with the same backpacks as they arrive at the Westland Hialeah Senior High School, during the first day of school for Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) in the 2025-2026 school year, on Thursday, August 14, 2025.
Pedro Portal
pportal@miamiherald.com
Next week, South Florida students will be packing their bags and heading back into the classroom for the new school year.
The first day of classes in Broward County Public Schools is Monday, Aug. 10. Miami-Dade County Public Schools opens Thursday, Aug. 13.
There’s a lot to keep track of in the transition from summer to the school year, so the Miami Herald created a guide with information on school lunches, bus routes and even educational opportunities for parents.
Here’s our 2026 back-to-school guide for parents.
Enrolling in school
You can enroll your children at their assigned school in person, but be sure to show up with the child to enroll. You can enroll your student at any time.
Fill out this form to begin the enrollment process for your child in Miami-Dade schools; you can find your assigned school here, and the district has also provided a handout on what to bring for registration.
To enroll in Broward County Public Schools, start by finding your assigned school here. Contact the school directly and arrive at the school with the required documents to register. This district has a checklist of all the documents and forms you need to register your student.
School calendar
Miami-Dade’s 2026-2027 school calendar is available here.
Broward County’s 2026-2027 school calendar is available here.
Virtual school
Miami-Dade offers a virtual school option, Miami Dade Online Academy. Registration is still open.
Broward also has a virtual school. Registration is open through Aug. 31.
More questions about back-to-school?
The Miami-Dade schools website has more information regarding documentation and forms, immunization requirements and school choice at this link.
The Broward County Public Schools website also has back-to-school resources at this link.
Discounted school supplies
There is no Florida sales tax or local option tax for school supplies through Aug. 20.
Clothing, footwear, wallets and backpacks, as long as they are less than $100, will be tax-free. School supplies priced at $50 or less are also tax-exempt, as are jigsaw puzzles with a sales price of $30 or less.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jose L. Dotres (right) joined Principal Phil A. Mato as they visited kindergarten students at the Dr. Rolando Espinosa K-8 Center, during the first day of school for Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) in the 2025-2026 school year, on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com What school supplies does my child need?
Check your child’s school website or contact the school for supply lists.
Are school meals free?
For most schools in Miami-Dade, breakfast and lunch is no longer free, due to changes in the district’s qualification for a federal free-meal program. Still, 121 schools offer completely free meals.
Full prices for Miami-Dade public school students who don’t qualify for free or reduced meals are $4.20 for lunch and $2.50 for breakfast. The reduced price is 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch.
To view menus, you can go to this site.
Broward County Public Schools provides free breakfast to all students. Lunch is free to all students at 141 schools due to assistance from a federal program.
A list of the remaining 80 schools that do not provide free lunch can be found here. Families that meet income requirements can apply for free or reduced-price lunch by filling out this form.
Lunch prices have increased by $1 at Broward schools for the second year in a row. It now costs $4 at elementary schools, $4.35 at middle schools and $4.50 at high schools. Reduced-priced meals are still 40 cents. Go to this site to view the menus.
Want to volunteer at your child’s school?
Those interested in volunteer opportunities can visit the following links to learn more and find their school’s volunteer liaison:
Miami-Dade school volunteer program
Broward school volunteer program
What about finding a school bus?
Miami-Dade: If you live two miles or more away from your assigned school, your child may be eligible to ride a school bus. You should contact your school for more information, input your information on the district’s bus planner tool or check the parent portal for your assigned bus route.
Broward: Newly enrolled students need an assigned student ID prior to registering to ride the bus. Contact your student’s school to get a student ID.
Fill out this form to register your student for the bus. You can also email register2ride@browardschools.com or call 754-321-4499 for any questions.
Just as a reminder, during school hours, keep your driving speed at 15 mph or below around schools.
Does my child need a uniform?
Miami-Dade: It depends on the school, so contact your school directly for more information. You can also view the dress code here.
Broward: Not all schools require uniforms, but all students must adhere to the dress code, which can be found on page 20 of the student code of conduct.
What about Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten?
Miami-Dade: There are a few options for Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten, including Title I, fee-supported programs and Head Start. Children have to live in Miami-Dade and be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 to be eligible.
Schools with more eligible applicants than slots available will make student selections utilizing a lottery system. More info is available here.
Broward: Broward County Public Schools offers early learning, including Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten, Head Start and Early Head Start, meant for pregnant mothers and children up to age two. Apply to Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten here and Head Start here.
More information on Broward’s early childhood education programs, including school locations, is available here.
Students with disabilities
Miami-Dade has an office for students with disabilities. More information regarding programs and services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech and language services is available at this link.
Broward’s department for students with disabilities is called the Exceptional Student Education Division. It offers services including Transition to Adulthood Planning and resources for caregivers. More information is available at this link.
Accessing the online parent portal
Miami-Dade: The parent portal is an online database with information on school buses, report cards, attendance, health services, student code of conduct and more. Here is the Miami-Dade Parent Portal Link.
Instructions on how to set up the parent portal are available here. Miami-Dade parents can log in to the portal on their cell phone or on a desktop.
Broward: You can download the BCPS Connect app on iPhones and Androids to access the parent portal to view your students’ records, attendance and grades. Here is the Broward County Parent Portal Link.
Questions for your school principal?
Miami-Dade: You can find contact information for your school principal here.
Broward: You can find contact information for your school principal here.
Staff members welcomed students as they arrive by buses at the Westland Hialeah Senior High School, during the first day of school for Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) in the 2025-2026 school year, on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com Back-to-school immunizations
All students are required to get certain vaccines to register at school.
Miami-Dade: If parents are experiencing financial difficulties or if a parent does not have a private medical provider, they can contact the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County Special Immunization Unit at 786-845-0550 to schedule an appointment to receive free school entry vaccines. Here is more info on free vaccination sites.
Broward: Parents must obtain the DH 680 form from the student’s healthcare provider or pediatrician. Proof of vaccination or a qualified exemption must be on file at the student’s school. Contact Student Health Services at 754-321-1575 for any questions.
A list of vaccines required for students, depending on their grade, is available here.
Reading resources
New Worlds Reading offers free books for all children in Florida below fifth grade. More information can be found on its website.
If you have a young child, the Miami-Dade Children’s Trust also offers reading resources and free books for kids from birth until age 4 and a half. It sends books with activities by mail directly to your home each month.
The Miami-Dade County and Broward libraries also offer literacy resources. Broward’s includes early literacy stations for preschool-age children and third-grade students.
Free eye exams?
The Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program provides no-cost comprehensive eye exams, and glasses if necessary, for Florida public school students who qualify. More information can be found here.
Resources for parentsMiami-Dade Parent Academy
Miami-Dade has a Parent Academy, which offers webinars on topics such as creating a family screen-time plan, homework help, info on Florida assessments, school choice and magnet schools, and more.
At this link, you can find recordings of webinars on topics from college planning to bullying to test anxiety.
Resources for Broward parents are available at this link.
Legal resources for immigrant families
Miami-Dade resources for immigrant families can be found here. Details on the district’s Bilingual Parent Outreach Program can be found here.
Broward County resources for immigrant families can be found here.
Upcoming back-to-school supplies giveaways and eventsMiami 2026 Back-to-School Resource Fair
On Saturday, Aug. 8, there will be a back-to-school resource fair in Miami-Dade.
Address: Miami Carol City Senior High, 13301 Miami Gardens Dr.
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Style Saves back-to-school event in Miami Beach
This upcoming weekend, nonprofit group Style Saves is hosting what it calls “the biggest back to school event in Miami” at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Providing free uniforms, backpacks, sneakers and school supplies, you can register your student for one of four time slots Saturday, Aug. 8, or Sunday, Aug. 9.
Address: 1901 Convention Ctr Dr.
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
Tamarac Back-to-School Resource Fair
On Saturday, Aug. 8, the City of Tamarac is hosting a back-to-school fair offering school supplies, family support programs and educational resources.
The first 200 students to arrive will receive a free backpack filled with supplies and educational materials. The event is free and open to the public.
When: Saturday, August 8, 10 AM – 1 PM
Where: Tamarac Community Center, 8601 W. Commercial Blvd.
Broward Education Foundation school supply drive
Through Aug. 31, the Broward Education Foundation is asking for donations of backpacks, composition books, crayons, pink erasers, two-pocket folders, glue sticks, hand sanitizer and more. The school supplies will be directly donated to Title I schools in Broward County.
Drop off items at the Broward Education Foundation School Supply Center, 2300 W. Copans Rd., Bay #5, Pompano Beach. You can also request a donation box to host your own supply drive.
Click this link for more information. Email hector.javier@browardschools.com or call 754-321-9020 with any questions.