Ready for school to start again? A few things have changed this year, so here are the important things to know:
Most Florida counties are starting school as early as the law allows, which this year is Aug. 11.
Middle and high schools may not be starting later in the morning, as a 2023 law required. Instead, a new law this year amended the last one to allow school districts to set their own schedules, under certain conditions.
Mobile devices such as phones and tablets are now banned “bell to bell” in elementary and middle schools in Florida and prohibited in high schools during instructional times unless a teacher expressly tells students to use them.
And the annual back-to-school tax holiday has been expanded to a full month.
There were several other education laws passed this year that affect students, including measures to further empower charter schools, allow home-schooled and private-schooled kids to complete in interscholastic sports, let students in marching bands get physical education or performing arts credit, improve healthcare and emergency responses, and more. You can find a list here.
Here’s what to know.
When is the Florida back-to-school sales tax holiday for 2025?
The back-to-school sales tax holiday will be held from Aug. 1 through Aug. 31 in 2025.
The month-long holiday replaces the two-week tax holiday held in prior years.
What school supplies can I buy tax-free in Florida?
Items exempt from sales tax from Aug. 1-31 include:
A full list of qualifying items will be “coming soon” and posted at floridarevenue.com/backtoschool, according to the Florida Department of Revenue.
Can students have phones, tablets in school?
They can have them, they just can’t use them. At least according to state law, check with your local school district for any other restrictions.
Students in elementary and middle school are prohibited from using wireless devices (such as phones, tablets, etc) during the school day. High school students may use them between classes but not during instructional time unless expressly directed by a teacher and then only for educational purposes.
Students requiring accommodations or who have a note from a licensed physician certifying that they need the use of a wireless decide are exempt.
What time does school start in Florida?
In 2023, Florida lawmakers passed a law prohibiting high schools from starting classes before 8:30 a.m. and middle schools before 8 a.m. It was a priority of then-House Speaker Paul Renner, who hoped to improve “academic scores and mental well-being.” The law was supposed to take effect in the 2026-2027 school year.
It was well-intentioned, but many school districts reported that making the change could wreak havoc with parental and guardian scheduling for transportation, child care and after-school activities. It would also cost some districts big bucks to buy new buses and hire more, already-hard-to-find bus drivers since many bus routes currently complete middle and high school routes before picking up elementary school students. Some districts would have to flip routes, which could leave younger students in rural areas waiting in the dark.
A new law this year, SB 296, allows districts to continue setting their own schedules, provided they submit reports documenting the costs included in moving class times, the efforts made to do so, and the unintended consequences to the school district, students, and the community. Check your local school district to see if times have changed.
What’s the earliest date Florida schools can start for the 2025-2026 school year?
Florida law prohibits school districts from starting earlier than Aug. 10.
That’s a Sunday this year, so the earliest start date for the 2025-2026 school year is Monday, Aug. 11.
Fifty-six out of Florida’s 67 counties will start the school year on Aug. 11. The remaining will start later the same week, between Aug. 12 and Aug. 14.
When does school start in Florida? List of all 67 Florida counties
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: When does school start in Florida? Start times, phone rules, school tax holiday for 2025-26
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, Cheryl McCloud and Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
