Pasco County Back To School Guide 2021-22

PASCO 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.

Pasco County Schools is the 49th largest school district in the U.S. and the 10th largest school district in Florida.

In 2020, the College Board, the national nonprofit organization that provides research and advocacy on colleges for parents, students and educators, named Pasco County Schools as the College Board Advanced Placement District of the Year for large districts.

On the first day of school, Aug. 10, 76,801 students will return to Pasco County's 96 public schools for the 2021-22 school year. This includes 12 charter schools, 14 high schools, 16 middle schools, 48 elementary schools, four educational centers, one technical college and Pasco Virtual School.

Niche, the national website that ranks primary schools, colleges and universities, gives the Pasco County School District an overall grade of B.

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

Niche's 2021 Best School Survey ranked Pasco County No. 22 out of 69 for athletics ; No. 26 of 69 for most diverse; and No. 27 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 that light, masks are optional in Pasco County Schools. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of masks, especially in elementary schools where children age 11 and under aren't eligible to receive coronavirus vaccinations.

• All district employees, students, visitors, and volunteers must conduct a health self-screening before coming to school each year. The screeners will be posted at the top of each school website.
• Staff and students will be encouraged to practice social distancing when and where possible.
• Teachers are encouraged to arrange the classroom environment to allow adequate space between students to the extent possible.
• Enhanced cleaning will continue in all schools.
• Frequently touched surfaces around the campus will be disinfected throughout the day.
• Desks and tables, sinks, drinking fountains and light switches will be disinfected daily.
• All classroom floors will be fully mopped daily.
• Walls, cabinets and furniture will be disinfected twice weekly.
• AC filters will be replaced with greater frequency.
• The use of one-way traffic flows inside buildings is encouraged where feasible to improve social distancing of students and staff.
• Cleaning resources (hand sanitizer, soap, germicide) will be regularly replenished.

Students and staff who have coronavirus-like will be required to stay home until:

• They obtain documentation of a negative PCR COVID-19 test or
• Verified medical documentation of alternate diagnosis as the cause of symptoms
• At least 24 hours have passed since the last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
• Symptoms have subsided.

Parents and staff who need to report a confirmed positive case or close contact with a positive case can self-report the case using the COVID Notification form. The form will automatically be sent to the district’s COVID Response Team, and the school will be notified. Those reporting a positive case must upload a copy of the positive test results. Cases can also be reported by contacting the school.

• The Department of Health will determine which people need to quarantine due to close contact with a positive case. Close contact is defined as within six feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more.
• The Department of Health will review each case and make a recommendation. Students and staff who have been fully vaccinated may not be required to quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms.
• Students or staff who need to quarantine will be contacted by the Department of Health and receive a letter which will be sent to the school.
• Students who must quarantine or isolate will be marked as “excused” for attendance purposes during the quarantine period.
• A data dashboard will be updated on the district website each day. It will report the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases each day among students and staff, the number required to quarantine, as well as the school or workplace.
• Schools will not conduct school-wide notifications of a positive case. Reports of COVID-19 cases will be available on the data dashboard. Notification will be limited to students or staff who are required to quarantine.

This year, students have two options for instruction, including in-person, on-campus instruction and the Pasco eSchool virtual option. The state has not approved the continued use of the mySchool Online option that was offered last year.

When a student receives a quarantine order from the Department of Health, students will be able to access learning materials connected to current lessons while at home via myPascoConnect and myLearning. Schools may also use hybrid instructional methods to support the learning at home to the extent possible. Secondary students may access Smart Tutoring, an online tutoring service within their myLearning courses. Parents and students can contact teachers directly to receive instructions on accessing coursework as well.

School Meetings And Parent Conferences

Parent-Teacher Association and School Advisory Committee meetings and parent conferences will resume and will be conducted virtually when possible.

Field Trips

The school district will allow in-county field trips. Out-of-county academic competitions will be allowed pending the school district's approval.

Extracurricular Activities

• All travel for Florida High School Athletic Association regular season and playoff events, as well as middle school sports, is allowed.
• All athletic events will allow spectators.
• All travel for Special Olympics events is approved. Special Olympics is currently requiring athletes to wear masks when they are on buses and when they are indoors.
• Fine arts performances will resume with audiences.

Food and Nutritional Services

• Schools will continue to use disposable wrapped cutlery and trays.
• The USDA has extended free breakfast and lunch for all students.
• Students will continue to eat breakfast in the classroom.
• Curbside meal service will no longer be provided.
• When possible, alternative dining space with supervision will be made available (commons areas, outdoors, etc.)

School Calendar

• All schools open and classes begin - Aug. 10, 2021
• Labor Day holiday - Sept. 6, 2021
• Early release day - Sept. 8, 2021
• Early release day - Oct. 6, 2021
• End of the first quarter - Oct. 15, 2021
• Teacher planning day, no school - Oct. 18, 2021
• Report cards - Oct. 26, 2021
• Early release day - Nov. 10, 2021
• Possible hurricane makeup days - Nov. 22-23, 2021
• Thanksgiving holiday week - Nov. 22 – 26, 2021
• Early release day - Dec. 8, 2021
• End of second quarter - Dec. 17, 2021
• Winter holiday/ no school - Dec. 20 to Dec. 31, 2021
• Winter holiday/ no school - Jan. 1-2, 2022
• Teacher planning day /no school - Jan. 3, 2022
• Martin Luther King Jr. holiday - Jan. 17, 2022
• Early release day - Feb. 2, 2022
• Presidents' Day/ no school - Feb. 21, 2022
• Early release day - March 9, 2022
• End of third quarter - March 11, 2022
• Spring break - March 14-18, 2022
• Teacher planning day/ no school - March 21, 2022
• Report cards - March 29, 2022
• Early release day - April 13, 2022
• No school - April 15, 2022
• Students' last day - May 25, 2022
• Graduation - June 1-5, 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).
• Have a physical examination certificate.

Students entering Pasco County Public Schools from public or private schools out of state or out of country must register with the following documentation:

• Evidence of home ownership: deed or property tax assessment records, and a copy of a current utility (electric/water) bill or initial order for service; and one of the following current documents: auto registration, Florida driver’s license, Florida ID card or voter registration.
• Evidence of leasing a home: Current lease or rental agreement or a notarized letter from the landlord, and a copy of a current utility (electric/water) bill or initial order for service; and one of the following current documents: auto registration, driver’s license, Florida ID card, or voter registration.
• Birth certificate (original required for copying) or other evidence of age. Please see section 1003.21, Florida Statutes, for a complete list of acceptable documents
• Physical (dated and signed by a health professional within one year of enrollment (first day of school).
• Current Florida Immunization Form transcribed by a health professional (See Immunization/Physical Requirements for school entry)
• Social Security number, if available (verify number with card; do not copy card).

Students previously enrolled in a Florida public school or private school must provide:

• Evidence of home ownership – deed or property tax assessment records, and a copy of a current utility (electric/water) bill or initial order for service; and one of the following current documents : auto registration, Florida driver’s license, Florida ID card or voter registration.
• Leased residence – Current lease or rental agreement or a notarized letter from the landlord, and a copy of a current utility (electric/water) bill or initial order for service; and one of the following current documents: auto registration, driver’s license, Florida ID card or voter registration.
• Current Florida Immunization Form transcribed by a health professional. (See Immunization/Physical requirements ). If a student has ever been in a Florida public or private school at any time throughout his/her school career, a new physical examination is not required for entry.
• Parents of exceptional education students should also provide the most recent Individual Education Plan for the student.

Click here for more information.

All parents should set up an a MyStudent account here to access grades, assignments and other information about their student.

Special Assignments And School Alternatives

Students must attend the assigned school within their neighborhood's boundary zone.

To find out a student's assigned school, click here.

Parents can request a special assignment to a school outside the student's boundary zone, a magnet school or a career and technical school during an open enrollment window. See application guidelines.

Districts must provide preferential treatment for special assignments to:

• Dependent children of active duty military personnel whose move resulted from military orders;
• Children who have been relocated due to a foster care placement in a different school zone;
• Children who move due to a court-ordered change in custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or death of a custodial parent.

Pasco County charter schools operate under performance contracts, called a charter, with the District School Board of Pasco County. The school board, through its Charter Schools Department, monitors each school for compliance with the charter and local, state and federal regulations.

All students may attend a charter school free of charge. For a list of Pasco County charter schools, click here. Parents interested in learning more about a charter school or for information on enrollment should contact the charter school directly. Pasco County School District does not enroll students into a charter school.

Parents also have the options of teaching their children themselves at home. Home Education intent forms are available here.

Pasco eSchool serves students from grades kindergarten through 12. Students receive free instructional support and guidance by highly qualified teachers. Students in sixth through 12th grades may enroll in Pasco eSchool as part-time or full-time students. Click here for more information.

Transportation

Pasco County Schools transports more than 37,000 students to and from school each day for a total of more than eight million miles annually.

Transportation services and maintenance are coordinated through five bus compounds located across Pasco's 868 square miles.

If you are looking for a student’s bus pass information, click here to access the myStudent parent portal.

School Lunches

Click here for details of the school lunch program. Currently, all school breakfasts and lunches are free regardless of the student's eligibility status.

Bell Times, Dress Code, Code of Conduct

Click here to find the starting and ending times for each school.

Click here for the code of conduct and dress code.

Parent Involvement

Parental involvement during the school year is essential to student success. There are numerous programs and services offered both by the district and third parties designed to help you stay involved in your child’s education. Visit the Office for Student Support Programs and Services for more information.

• Check Grades Online
• Elementary Curriculum Guides
• Media and Library Resources
• Pasco eSchool
• Students with Disabilities
• Today’s Tip for Parents
• Volunteer Program

Click here to find after-school enrichment programs.