South Florida school districts stagger 2026-27 start dates

Four South Florida school districts will open for the 2026‑27 academic year on different days. Broward and Palm Beach districts begin on August 10, followed by the Archdiocese of Miami Catholic schools on August 11, Monroe County (the Florida Keys) on August 12, and Miami‑Dade County on August 13, with the year ending on June 3, 2027.

Florida’s back‑to‑school tax holiday runs from July 20 to August 20, offering exemptions for clothing, footwear, school supplies, educational materials and certain technology purchases, while excluding items such as cell phones and video‑game consoles.

Miami‑Dade Superintendent José Dotres announced staffing cuts that eliminated 168 positions and the closure or merger of nine schools after a decline of 13,000 students. The district also ended universal free lunches, now providing free meals only at schools that meet federal Community Eligibility Provision criteria, with full‑price lunches costing $4.20 and breakfasts $2.50. Broward County is addressing budget challenges and exploring AI‑enabled security cameras, while Monroe County Superintendent Ed Tierney highlighted the district’s second consecutive “A” rating and upcoming higher performance thresholds.