Pinellas County Back To School Guide 2021-22

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The 2021-22 school year is just around the corner, and Patch has put together the information every parent with a school-age child needs to know.

According to the Pinellas County School District, 101,427 Pinellas County students will either return to the classroom Wednesday, Aug. 11, or opt to take classes online through Pinellas Virtual School. The school district will no longer offer simultaneous MyPCS Online instruction to students.

Pinellas County Schools is the seventh-largest district in Florida with 150 schools including magnets, career academies, adult education centers and traditional elementary, middle and high schools.

Niche, the national website that ranks primary schools, colleges and universities, gives the Pinellas school district an overall grade of B+.

• Academics - B
• Teachers - B
• Clubs and activities - A-
• Diversity - A
• College Prep - A-
• Health and safety - C+

Niche's 2021 Best School Survey ranked Pinellas County No. 9 out of 69 for the best teachers ; No. 13 of 69 for most diverse; and No. 17 of 69 for best school district in Florida.

Coronavirus Protocols

Students will find things a lot more relaxed this school year as the district restores some normalcy to the school day after last year's strict coronavirus protocols.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order preventing Florida's school districts from mandating that students wear face masks. Schools that don't adhere to his order risk losing state funding.

In light of this, the Pinellas County School District is making masks optional this school year, be strongly recommends the use of masks for both staff and students when indoors, especially in elementary schools with students age 11 and under who are not eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine. The school district will provide free masks to students, staff and visitors.

• The schools will no longer routinely use plexiglass barriers, saying they are no longer viewed by the medical community as a priority strategy" and "the use of plexiglass has a negative impact on a collaborative learning environment." However, plexiglass barriers can be used sparingly.
• Social distancing practices, to the extent possible, will continue, but students will be able to share materials in classrooms and equipment in physical education while being encouraged to wash their hands frequently and use hand sanitizer.
• Additionally, the school district has lifted restrictions on extracurricular activities, sports programs and school concerts and theater productions, and is permitting full-capacity crowds at sporting events and school functions.
• Volunteers and visitors will be permitted back on school campuses.
• Water fountains in all district buildings will remain closed.
• At this time seating charts for classrooms, lunchrooms and buses will not be required in but may be requested if there is a positive case of the coronavirus at a school site to help with contact tracing.
• Sudents and staff who are fully vaccinated will not need to quarantine if they're exposed to a positive COVID case unless they begin to experience symptoms.
• Every school will be assigned a nurse.
• Schools will maintain a separate space for students exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Students sent home through the isolation room will be allowed to return to school using the same protocols that were used during the 2020-21 school year (i.e. a negative test or alternative diagnosis for symptoms or 10 days absent from school).
• The district will maintain the COVID-19 team to ensure staff and student cases are addressed quickly.
• The district dashboard of confirmed COVID-19 cases will be updated on a weekly basis.
• Daily declarations of wellness will no longer be needed for students, staff or visitors.
• In-person staff meetings, professional development and trainings will resume, but schools may still offer virtual opportunities.
• Watch these videos about proper handwashing techniques and germ prevention at schools.

School Calendar

• All schools open and classes begin - Aug. 11, 2021
• Labor Day holiday - Sept. 6, 2021
• End of first quarter - Oct. 7, 2021
• N0 school - Oct. 8, 2021
• Thanksgiving holiday week - Nov. 22 – 26, 2021
• Students Return to School - Nov. 29, 2021
• End of second quarter - Dec. 17, 2021
• Winter holiday/ no school - Dec. 18 to Dec. 31, 2021
• No school (possible hurricane make-up day - Jan. 3, 2022
• Students return to school - Jan. 4, 2022
• Martin Luther King Jr. holiday - Jan. 17, 2022
• Presidents' Day/ no school - Feb. 21, 2022
• End of third quarter - March 11, 2022
• Spring break - March 12-20, 2022
• No school (possible hurricane make-up day) - March 21, 2022
• No school - April 15, 2022
• End of the fourth quarter/ last day of school (students will be released two hours early) - May 26, 2022

Registering New Students

To register for kindergarten, children must:

• Be 5 years old on or before Sept.1
• Be able to show proof of residency (home address)
• Have a Florida Certificate of Immunization (shots record). Find out the 2020-21 state of Florida school entry immunization requirements.
• Have a physical examination certificate: List of locations offering free or low cost school physicals for uninsured residents.

Required Documents:

• Birth certificate or other proof of identity/age:
• Students must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten. Students must be 6 years old on or before Sept. 1 and have completed kindergarten to attend grade 1. All students new to Pinellas County Schools must present proof of identity/age. For other items that may be accepted as legal evidence of birth, call your child’s assigned school
• Proof of residency: Present two of the following items: utility bill for power, water, cable, sewer or land based telephone (not cellular); rental agreement or lease; closing document; Pinellas County tax statement with homestead exemption. The items must be recent and contain the name of the parent/guardian and service address on them. If you do not have two of these items in the name of the parent or guardian, you must complete an Affidavit of Residency
• It must be completed, notarized on both sides and submitted with two of the items listed in the name of the person with whom you reside and who is listed on the affidavit
• Child’s Social Security number:
• School system personnel are required to ask for this, but students are not required to have them
• Child’s most recent report card:
• This is for students entering grades 1-12. If available, the report card should include the school’s address and phone number.
• Florida Certificate of Immunization
• Physical examination certificate:
• All new students entering school in Florida for the first time must have a school health examination certificate signed by a licensed examiner (certificate must have been issued within 12 months prior to enrollment/registration)
• A recent Individual Education Plan (IEP): If the student participates in exceptional student education, he or she must have an IEP. Exceptional Student Education.

Contact your zoned school for a complete listing of the school's kindergarten open houses and events. For more information about kindergarten registration, watch this preparing for kindergarten video.

New students in kindergarten, sixth or ninth grade who enroll in Pinellas County Schools will be assigned to a zoned school. All other new students will be assigned to their zoned school on a space-available basis. Pinellas County Schools New Student Information

If the zoned school does not have capacity, students will be assigned to a nearby school with available seats and be provided school bus transportation. Students at all other grades will be assigned to their zoned school on a space-available basis.

Parents will first need to find their child’s zoned school by using the School Zone Locator or calling Student Assignment, 727-588-6210.

To reserve a seat at a zoned school, use the online Student Reservation System located on the district website.

To use the Student Reservation System, you will need a PCS Portal User ID and password. To get a new PCS Portal User ID and password, visit any school. Make sure to bring a valid ID (Driver's License, State ID card, Passport/Visa, Military ID or Green Card). If you already have a User ID and password for another child, you do not have to obtain new ones. Learn how to change or reset your passwords at www.pcsb.org/passwords.

The final step is to visit the assigned school in the fall and deliver the list of required documents.

The hours for the district's Student Assignment office are 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Monday-Friday. There will be extended hours on two days:

• 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7
• 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 9

The Student Assignment office is located in the district's Administration Building, 301 4th St. SW, Largo. Families can receive assistance by calling the office at 727-588-6210.

Make sure Pinellas County Schools has up-to-date contact information including emergency contacts for the student.

Access all the forms that families need to start the school year including the Media Release Form, the Clinic Card and the Code of Conduct Parent and Student Acknowledge Letter.

Learn more about social services that the district makes available to students and families by watching this social services video.

Special Assignments

Special assignments allow families the option to apply for a non-zoned school based on space availability.

Bus transportation is not provided for Special Assignment Requests. Parents must arrange to get their child to and from school safely and on time.

There are three opportunities to apply for a special assignment. Parents can make reservations to apply here.

Preferential treatment is given to dependent children of active-duty military personnel whose move resulted from military orders: students who have relocated due to foster care placement in another school zone; and students who move to another school zone due to a separation or divorce or serious illness or death of a parent.

Charter Schools And Home Education

Charter Schools in Florida are fully recognized as public schools and are funded by the Florida Department of Education in the same manner as all other public schools in the state. They operate under a performance contract, or a "charter," between the charter school governing board and the school district.

Parents who do not wish to send their student to their zoned school can opt to send the student to a charter school free of charge. There are 20 charter schools operating in Pinellas County. Find out about charter schools.

Home Education is a parent-directed program. By opening a home education program, the parent agrees to become responsible for the student's education.

For information, contact the Charter Schools & Home Education Department at 727-588-6209 or click here.

Transportation

If your child is a bus rider, you will receive information in the mail from the district's Transportation Office detailing your child's bus stop, route number and pick-up and drop-off times for the 2021-22 school year.

If you have questions about your student's bus transportation, contact the Transportation District Call Center at 727-587-2020.

School Supply List

View the recommended supply lists, by grade level.

School Lunches

Pinellas County Schools have 85 schools that offer free or reduced-price lunches to eligible students. Click here for a list of schools. Apply online here.

Paid and reduced-price school lunches can be prepaid by cash or check only, and put into your child's account in the cafeteria. Checks should be made payable to (name of school) Food Service (i.e.: Largo High School Food Service). The money remains in the student's account, and rolls over from year to year.Your student's account may be replenished at any time during the school year to avoid a negative balance.

My School Bucks is an online payment portal specially designed to allow parents to make convenient, anytime payments to their children's school meal accounts. Create a new account with My School Bucks using the student's 10 digit local ID number. You can find this number in Focus, which is located in the district's Home Page drop down menu; once in Focus, search under "Local Student ID." Each student will need his/her own account.

Bell Times, Dress Code, Code of Conduct

For each school's start and end times, click here.

For dress code requirements, click here.

For the student code of conduct, click here.

For school discipline, click here.

For homework help, click here.