Back To School: Pinellas County 2023-24 School Calendar

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The summer has seemingly flown by, and now parents are scurrying to collect an assortment of notebooks, pens, pencils, glue and calculators on their kids' mandatory classroom supply lists.

Thanks to the Florida Legislature, which approved the Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday from July 24 through Aug. 6, many Floridians have already purchased back-to-school items tax-free.

Those who haven't may pay a bit more with the addition of sales tax, but many retail stores throughout Pinellas County are now offering sales on items that will offset the sales taxes.

At Target, teachers and school staff who are members of the Target Circle will receive 20 percent off school supplies through Aug. 26.

Walmart makes it easy to shop for classroom supplies. Just enter the name of the school and grade to find the classroom supply list.

And Best Buy is hosting sales on computers and associated technology, dorm accessories and school essentials.

The Legislature also approved a second sales tax exemption for back-to-school items for the second half of the school year. The exemption period runs from Monday, Jan. 1, to Sunday, Jan. 14.

Helping Students Succeed

With the help of nonprofit groups and government agencies, students in need are receiving plenty of help obtaining school supplies.

For the 16th consecutive year, Ice Cold Air franchisees in Tampa Bay came together to host Back-to-School Supplies Drives followed by Back-to-School Bashes at three of its six Tampa Bay stores on July 29 at the Clearwater store at 1180 Court St., giving away 50 backpacks with school supplies to preregistered families.

“Fifteen years ago, we looked at the Back-to-School Bash as a marketing opportunity. We put our logos on the backpacks," said Ice Cold Air franchisor Ashley Butler. "Throughout the years of hosting the drives and bashes, something shifted and we realized that the donations are not about us being seen but for the child to feel seen. In January, I became the franchisor and now we have the opportunity to show other franchisees how good it feels to help kids in their communities go back to school.”

The community at large benefits as well.

"They get to donate the supplies and they get a free oil change," said Butler. "The guidance counselors at the schools get to participate since they get the overflow. Adrien, our director of marketing, will take the extra supplies to the schools in the area with the lowest amount of support. Over the past 15 years we have figured out many different ways to support the community and the back-to-school events are my favorite.”

During what's become a Tampa Bay summer tradition, the Bullard Family Foundation gathered an army of more than 500 volunteers to fill 30,000 backpacks with all the essentials for the school year.

The backpacks were then distributed July 29 at the sixth annual Bullard Family Foundation Back-to-School Bash at Raymond James Stadium. The event was hosted in partnership with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and presented by AdventHealth, Fran Haasch Law Group and Skanska.

During the event, students received a free backpack with school supplies, free medical, dental and vision services and complimentary haircuts.
Tampa resident, former WWE superstar and current WWE global ambassador Titus O'Neil, whose real name is Thaddeus Bullard, has championed Tampa Bay school districts for years.

Bullard's foundation has built five innovation labs at schools in the Tampa Bay area, which double as incentive rooms during the school day and a safe space for students after school.

His Cops and Cleats program has collected more than 8,000 pairs of football cleats for kids in youth leagues and on high school football teams.

And the BFF Tennis Academy gives 250 children from seven Boys & Girls Clubs in Tampa Bay the opportunity to receive tennis instruction from the United States Tennis Association.

Related:

• WWE Superstar Helps Provide Pasco Schools With Innovation Labs
• Clearwater's Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy Plans Changes For School Year

“There are thousands of students and teachers in need of resources in our school district,” said Bullard. “I’m so honored by how our foundation’s corporate partners have stepped up again in a big way to ensure our students are prepared for the start of school, not only with backpacks and school supplies, but also with haircuts, and health services and so much more. It goes without saying that we are all richer for giving.”

To find out more ways to help students succeed, visit the Pinellas Education Foundation website.

Here is the back-to-school calendar for children attending Pinellas County public schools. Parents of students attending private, parochial and charter schools in Hillsborough County should check the school's website for important dates including the first day of school, holiday breaks and other days off.