Back to school 2025: Everything South Florida parents need, in one guide
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 is Monday, Aug. 11, and Miami-Dade public schools open on Thursday, Aug. 14.
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 2025 guide to back-to-school.
Enrolling in school
Parents can enroll their 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.
Go to this site for Miami-Dade school registration information and to this site for instructions on the documents needed to enroll your child in Broward County Public Schools.
School calendar
Miami-Dade’s 2025-2026 school calendar is available here.
Broward County’s 2025-2026 school calendar is available here.
Virtual school
Miami-Dade offers a virtual school option, but registration is closed for this fall.
Broward also has a virtual school. Registration is open until Aug. 25.
More questions about back-to-school?
The Miami-Dade 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
During August, there is no Florida sales tax or local option tax for school supplies.
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.
What school supplies does my child need?
Parents should check their child’s school website or contact the school for supply lists.
Are school meals free?
All students are entitled to breakfast and lunch at no charge in Miami-Dade public schools. To view menus, you can go to this site.
Broward County Public Schools no longer provides free universal lunch, though breakfast is free for all students. Families that meet income requirements must fill out a form for their students to receive free or reduced-price lunch.
Lunch prices have also increased at Broward schools: It now costs $3 at elementary schools, $3.35 at middle schools and $3.50 at high schools. 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 2 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, or check the parent portal for your assigned bus route.
Broward: Newly enrolled Broward students need an ID in order to ride the bus. Contact your student’s school to get an ID.
Fill out this form to register your student for the bus. You can also email register2ride@browardschools.com 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 here.
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 and Head Start. 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: Parents can download the BCPS Connect app on iPhones and Androids to access the parent portal to view their students’ records, attendance and grades. Here is the Broward County Parent Portal Link.
Instructions on how to set up the parent portal are available here.
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.
Back-to-school immunizations
All students are required to have 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 parents
Miami-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.
Broward County resources for immigrant families can be found here.
Upcoming back-to-school supplies giveaways and events
Miami 2025 Back-to-School Resource Fair
On Saturday, Aug. 9, there will be a back-to-school resource fair in Miami-Dade.
Address: Booker T. Washington Sr. High School, 1200 NW Sixth Ave., Miami
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Back-to-School Celebration at Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
Also on Saturday, Aug. 9, School Board member Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall is hosting a back-to-school celebration at PAMM. There will be art-making stations led by teaching artists, live performances by local students and other back-to-school resources.
If you are interested in signing up for the PAMM Student Pass, which offers free museum admission to Miami-Dade County Public Schools students and their chaperones throughout the school year, this is also an opportunity to do so.
Address: 1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Town of Davie school supply drive
The town of Davie is partnering with Rick and Rita Case Boys & Girls Club, Florence A. De George Unit Boys & Girls Club, and Davie Police Athletic League for a school supply drive. Donations of spiral notebooks, composition books, pens, No. 2 pencils, pencil cases, glue sticks and more will be accepted until Aug. 8.
A full list of drop-off locations is available here. The Rick and Rita Case Boys and Girls Club, Florence A. De George Unit Boys and Girls Club, and Davie Police Athletic League will handle the distribution.
For questions about the donation drive, contact Angela Madias, the Davie police compliance and accreditation manager, at amadias@davie-fl.gov or 954-693-8395, or Chad Pezoldt, the assistant parks, recreation and cultural arts director, at cpezoldt@davie-fl.gov or 954-797-1151.
Broward Education Foundation school supply drive
Through Aug. 29, the Broward Education Foundation is asking for donations of backpacks, black 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 Road, Bay #5, Pompano Beach. Click this link for more information. Contact BEFInfo@browardschools.com with questions.
Dania Beach back-to-school beach clean-up
This beach clean-up event will offer students community service hours, free backpacks for participating students and prizes.
Address: Dania Beach Pier, 100 N. Beach Road, Dania Beach
When: Thursday, Aug. 7, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Info: daniabeachfl.gov
This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
