Ready or not, back-to-school season is here — and with it comes the scramble for supplies, schedules, and sign-ups. The to-do list for parents is mighty, but this year, some things look a little different. From free lunch eligibility to changes to DCPS volunteer requirements, it’s important to stay in the know as we gear up for the 2025–2026 school year.
To help make your transition from summer mode to school-ready a little smoother, we’ve gathered some key reminders and links you need to start the school year off right.
READ: Back-to-School Prep: Your Checklist for Success
DCPS Volunteer Screening Updates
If you are a current volunteer (or hoping to become one!), please be aware that Duval County Public Schools has updated its volunteer background screening policy in an effort to strengthen student safety and align with state law. Volunteers are now divided into two groups:
- Level I: These are volunteers who are always under the direct supervision of district staff and are never alone with students. Examples include a classroom helper or room parent, a book fair volunteer, or a cafeteria monitor. The Level I screening process includes a national sexual offender registry check.
- Level II: The new Level II screening applies to volunteers who supervise students — such as field trip chaperones — and may not always be in direct view of district staff. This screening process includes the same as Level I, plus a fingerprint-based background check and a review of criminal offenses. A fee of $80–$100 applies to the Level II screening and must be covered by the volunteer.
If you have never volunteered with DCPS, complete the Volunteer Application Form — the type of volunteering activities you indicate on the form will determine whether you need to complete a Level I or Level II screening. If you are a current volunteer in a chaperone role (or any other role where you work with students outside the direct view of staff), you will need to log into your current account and click “Edit Profile” to indicate that you are a Level II volunteer. You will then receive an email with instructions on how to begin the screening process.
DCPS Free & Reduced Lunch Program Updates
The end of pandemic-related funding has prompted changes in lunch service at many area schools. Beginning this school year, 37 DCPS schools (click here for the full list) will no longer be providing free lunch meals through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Families of students enrolled in these schools will need to complete a free or reduced-price meal application or be Directly Certified by the State to receive assistance with meals.
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To receive assistance with the cost of school lunch, you will need to apply for free or reduced-price meals. The application will be available online the first week in August, and we encourage families to apply.
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All students will continue to receive lunch at no cost for the first 30 operating days of the school year, OR until a new meal eligibility status determination is made (whichever comes first). Meal eligibility is established through the processing of a Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application or Direct Certification.
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If your child receives benefits such as SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid, they will be automatically approved for free or reduced-price meals by Direct Certification.
Note that lunch will continue to be provided at no cost to students in CEP schools (where at least 40% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch) going into this school year.
If your child doesn’t qualify for free or reduced lunch but will be purchasing meals at school, contact your child’s school for instructions on how to add funds to their meal account.
Breakfast will continue to be provided at no cost to all students at all schools through the federal Universal Free Breakfast Program.
School Supply Lists
Most DCPS schools publish detailed supply lists on their individual school websites. You can also easily look up your school supply list on TeachersLists.com, or browse by county: Duval County, St. Johns County, Clay County, Baker County, Nassau County, Flagler County, and Putnam County.
Don’t forget that you can save during Florida’s Annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday from August 1–31, 2025. Certain items and school supplies will be exempt from sales tax during the entire month of August.
DCPS Bus Registration for 2025–2026
All students must be registered for transportation each year before they may ride a bus. Note: You must have a Linked Parent Account in order to register for a bus.
- Log in to the parent/guardian Focus account and select your child’s name. > Select Child Info. > Select Forms. > Select 2025-26 Transportation Registration Form.
- Review address. Note that the primary address is used to determine the bus assignment. If the address is correct: Go to “I am requesting bus stop transportation for my student,” and select Yes. If the address is incorrect: Contact your child’s school to update before proceeding.
- Click Submit Request.
Repeat these steps for any additional students in the family.
Note that many of these helpful back-to-school reminders apply to Duval County Public Schools — visit your school’s individual website or administration office for additional information and policies.
