April 2026 Family and Community Newsletter

We would like to inform our families, staff, and community stakeholders that Pasco County Schools will be transitioning our School Board meeting management platform from BoardDocs to Diligent Communities. 

This change supports our ongoing commitment to transparency, accessibility, and communication with our community. 

With the new Diligent platform, you will still be able to: 

• View School Board meeting agendas and supporting documents in a familiar format. 

• Access both current and past meeting materials. 

• Search and navigate agenda items easily. 

In addition, Diligent offers several new features, including: 

• The ability to sign up for notifications when new agendas are posted. 

• Improved mobile accessibility. 

• Enhanced search functionality for easier access to archived documents. 

We appreciate your patience during this transition and are confident that this new platform will enhance your experience and engagement with our School Board processes. 

https://pasco-k12-fl.community.diligentoneplatform.com/portal/

April is a time of growth. Just like spring flowers, achievement blooms when students show up every day. Consistent attendance helps build confidence, deepen learning, and prepare for a strong finish. For additional tips about attendance ​​​Click Here​​​!

Spring testing season has arrived and Pasco County Schools is here to support you and your child every step of the way. As students prepare for Florida’s statewide assessments, a few simple routines at home can help them feel confident and ready to do their best.

Parent Tips to Support Your Child

• Keep routines steady. A consistent bedtime, healthy meals, and regular study habits go a long way toward reducing stress.
• Stay informed. Your child’s school will share specific testing dates, but district testing calendars are also available online.
• Talk positively about testing. Remind your child that these assessments help teachers understand what they know and how to support them — it’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. Encourage your child to take their time and do their very best on the assessments.
• Practice together. Reviewing sample items or exploring practice tests can help your child feel familiar with the testing platform and question formats.
• Check in on their feelings. A quick conversation about any worries can help ease nerves before test day.
• Make test mornings calm. A good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast, and arriving at school on time help set the tone for success.

For detailed testing calendars, practice resources, information on computer‑adaptive testing, and step‑by‑step directions for accessing your child’s scores, visit the Pasco Assessment Resource Corner.

Ready to Graduate? Your Moment Starts Now! 

Attention Pasco County Dual Enrollment Students, the Spring 2026 PHSC graduation application portal is now open for those who have earned their A.A. or A.S. Degree! Apply today through Banner Student Self Service in your Bobcat Portal. Don’t wait until the deadline—apply early and make sure everything is in place for your big day. 

The deadline to apply and participate in the commencement ceremony is March 30, 2026. The FINAL deadline to apply is April 24, 2026.

Why Your A.A. Degree Matters:

• Save Time & Money: You’ve earned college credits while still in high school — that’s a huge head start!
• Transfer-Ready: An A.A. degree can make transferring to a Florida public university smoother. Confirm with your high school counselor if you have a specific public university in mind.
• Career Boost: Even without transferring, an A.A. or A.S. degree can open doors to better job opportunities and higher earning potential.
• Personal Achievement: You’ve worked hard — now it’s time to celebrate your success and inspire others!

✅ Here’s what to do:

1. Review the A.A./A.S. Degree Graduation Information Flyer.
2. Meet with a PHSC Academic Advisor to complete a degree audit and confirm you’ve met all program requirements.
3. Apply to Graduate by clicking the link below.
4. Don’t wait — the deadline to apply and participate in the commencement ceremony is March 30, 2026. The FINAL deadline to apply without participating in the commencement ceremony is April 24, 2026.

This is your time to shine. Don’t miss the chance to walk across the stage and celebrate your hard work with family, friends, and fellow graduates!

Apply to Graduate Now

Check Graduation Requirements

For any additional questions around this opportunity please reach out to your high school counselor or submit a Let's Talk Ticket to dual_enrollment@k12-lets-talk.com.

Pasco County Schools is excited to host our annual virtual AP & AICE English General Paper Review Day on Saturday, April 11th from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students may register for up to three sessions, each designed to provide valuable strategies, tips, and insights to help them confidently prepare for their upcoming exams.  All sessions will be hosted live and led by expert Pasco County Schools teachers.

Registration is available now through our Sched platform:
https://apaiceegpreviewday2026.sched.com/

If you have any questions, please contact Heather Rulison.

AP AICE EGP Review Day 2026 Flyer

The Summer VPK program provides 300 hours of instruction to age-eligible Pasco County children who did not participate in the 540-hour  25-26 school year VPK or Head Start program and who will be going into Kindergarten in the Fall of 2026. More information and steps to apply can be found on our website. 

Location: Skybrooke K-8

2272 Skybrooke Blvd.

Lutz, FL 33558

Program Dates: Monday-Thursday, June 8-July 30. 

Questions? Contact Early Childhood Programs at 813-981-7301.

We are currently accepting applications for VPK for the 2026-2027 academic year.  Available school locations, program options, and steps to apply can be found on our website.

For additional information and questions, please contact our office at 813-981-7301.

We are looking forward to another amazing year serving children and families in Pasco County.  

We are currently accepting application for Head Start and Early Head Start for the 2026-2027 academic year. Eligibility interviews will be scheduled once applications are received. Apply via the link found on the homepage of our website. 

For additional information and questions, please contact our office at 813-981-7301 or email us at hs_ehs@pasco.k12.fl.us

We are looking forward to another amazing year serving children and families in Pasco County.  

The second K-12 Pasco Pathways School Choice Window for the 2026-2027 school year will be open from April 13^th through April 17^th, 2026.  The notification window is from May 18^th through May 22^nd, 2026.   For additional information please visit our Pasco School Choice webpage linked here.

April is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Awareness Month. This is a time to celebrate individuals on the autism spectrum and continue building understanding and support across our communities. This month, we encourage everyone to take small, meaningful steps to promote understanding of autism. Whether it is using encouraging language, being mindful of sensory needs of others or creating opportunities for participation on your campus, each effort helps create a more supportive environment for all.  

Did you know?  

• One in 31 children in the United States is identified with ASD.  

• ASD is three times more common in boys than in girls.  

• ASD occurs across all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups.  

• Pasco County Schools have over 1,900 students with the primary eligibility of ASD. 

 Community Resources

• The Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD): A network of state-funded, no-cost resource centers, that support individuals with ASD and related disabilities, their families and professionals across their lifespan. CARD centers provide consultation, education, training, technical assistance and resource referrals to help build skills, access services, and enhance community supports in homes, schools, workplaces, and other settings. Their goal is to help individuals reach their full potential and be an active, valued member of their communities.  

• Love Serving Autism: A nonprofit that empowers children and adults with autism and developmental abilities through specialized therapeutic racquet sports programs like tennis, pickleball and padel. Their Florida programs focus on enhancing communication, motor skills, confidence and overall well-being by combining sport with therapeutic support delivered by certified coaches and therapists. The organization also offers training for sports professionals and volunteers to expand adaptive programming in the community.  

• FIN: An Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)-funded state project based at Florida State University’s (FSU) Learning Systems Institute that works with school districts and IDEA-funded state projects to support students with disabilities across Florida. FIN provides data-driven planning, professional learning, technical assistance, coaching and resources that help schools implement best practices and improve outcomes for students with disabilities, ensuring they have the same educational, social, and future opportunities as their peers. FIN’s services are free to Florida schools and designed to strengthen collaboration among families, educators and districts to support students in the least restrictive environment.  

• Tree of Knowledge: A state- and federally-funded provider offering a wide range of psycho-educational services to support students with various learning needs. Services include assessments, therapy, instruction and tutoring, all designed to help students succeed academically, socially, and behaviorally. Tree of Knowledge partners with schools and families across the state and supports access to scholarship programs that expand educational opportunities for students with unique abilities. Keep an eye out in your area for events throughout the month to celebrate and embrace our differences by learning something new and celebrating the strengths that make each person unique. For Leon County residents, this includes the Leon County Public Library Autism Acceptance Month Events and the 9th Annual Kickin’ It for Autism Soccer Clinic through CARD FSU.  

This April, we proudly celebrate National Financial Literacy Month—a meaningful opportunity to highlight the importance of financial knowledge and help our students build strong, lifelong financial habits. Throughout the month, Pasco County Schools, in collaboration with our valued community partners, will offer a variety of virtual events, activities, and learning opportunities designed to support parents/guardians, employees, community members, and students in planning for a financially successful future. 

These districtwide offerings will include student competitions, financial fun facts, and helpful resources focused on saving, budgeting, and making smart financial decisions. Be sure to visit the district’s Financial Literacy webpage, where new information and details about upcoming activities and competitions will be added regularly. 

Students can also access additional resources through Xello, the career and college readiness platform available to all Pasco County K–12 students through their myPascoConnect dashboard. Within Xello, The Real Game allows students to explore future careers and understand real‑world finances by connecting their lifestyle goals with the costs needed to achieve them. Through engaging simulations, students learn how career choices and financial decisions impact their futures—strengthening critical thinking skills and purposeful planning. These interactive scenarios also encourage valuable conversations between students, their families, teachers, and peers about life after graduation. 

Financial Literacy Beanstack Challenge 

Celebrate Financial Literacy! This month, learn more about important topics such as earning, spending, and saving money through reading. Log your reading in Beanstack throughout the month of April to earn a badge and be entered into a prize drawing! 

Keeping our students safe is a collaborative partnership between the School District, Law-Enforcement, and home. Listed below are some tips parents can use to help stay informed and proactive.

Monitor Digital Footprints - Regularly checking your child’s social media and messaging apps is a good, pro-active way to monitor your child’s digital activity. School threats often surface on-line before they reach the school campus.

Emergency Contact Information - Emergency contact information should be reviewed yearly to ensure it is current and that updates are made as needed.

See Something, Say Something Rule - Parents should take a pro-active approach by encouraging their children to report any concerning comments or behaviors to a trusted adult immediately, which could include an administrator, teacher, the campus SSG/SRO, or school support staff. It should be strongly emphasized that reporting is about overall safety of the school and not “snitching.”

Talk to your child about Safety Drills - Explain, in a simple way, that drills are conducted to practice staying safe, and not a sign that something is wrong. If your child indicates they feel scared during school safety drills, re-enforce with them that their administrators, teachers, and SSG/SRO are there to protect and keep them safe. Parents should emphasize that knowing what to do and what not to do during school safety drills will make them strong and prepared, rather than helpless.

Together we can ensure every child feels safe and secure from the moment they arrive at school until they return home.