Back To School

For most students in the Tampa Bay region, school starts Aug. 12. On Wednesday, Hillsborough district officials unveiled new programs and priorities to help students succeed.

The state has begun a tax "holiday" that will allow back-to-school shoppers to avoid paying sales taxes on items such as clothes, school supplies and laptops.

Many of the new rules are a result of the expansion of the state "Parental Rights in Education" law.

The idea is to improve efficiency of bus routes, but it still leaves most high schools starting around 7 a.m., which goes against what researchers say is best for teenagers' sleep patterns.

Florida students began returning to classrooms this week amid a teacher and support-staff shortage, with some counties still advertising positions and exploring "creative options" to fill vacancies.

Along with the difficulties of staff shortages, teachers and school districts are also facing scrutiny around what students are taught in the classroom.

The event helped offset the cost of school supplies for parents and give teachers a window into their students' day-to-day life.

Students and teachers are both facing challenges again as schools reopen next month across Tampa Bay.

The requirement marks a change of course for the district, which had said previously that masks would be optional.

Public schools in Gwinnett County will move online this fall. The district's superintendent said most everyone will have the Internet but he "can't guarantee" reliable access for all.

Many local school districts have pushed back their start dates, as talks continue about how to reopen safely in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.…

Many Florida schools are pressing ahead with reopening plans, and are in close consultation with area health departments. But are those public health…