July 2025 Family and Community Newsletter

Pasco County Schools is excited to announce the return of its annual Citizens’ Academy - an engaging program that offers community members a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of one of Florida’s largest and most dynamic school districts.

Participants will take part in monthly sessions throughout the school year, where they will connect with district leaders, visit schools across the county, and gain insight into key areas such as curriculum, student services, budgeting, safety initiatives, and more.

The Citizens’ Academy includes interactive tours and presentations, providing a valuable opportunity to meet with school board members, principals, and department directors. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions, share feedback, and explore how the district delivers a world-class education to more than 80,000 students.

Applicants must commit to attending all eight sessions, which are held during school hours. All participants will be required to complete a volunteer background screening.

This unique experience is open to parents, community partners, and anyone interested in learning more about public education in Pasco County.

To apply, please complete our online application.

To learn more, visit our Citizens Academy web page.

Students NEW to dual enrollment wishing to take courses on their high school campus (including Pasco eSchool), PHSC campuses, or through distance education (online) must submit the online application with a priority deadline of July 15, 2025. Applications will be accepted no later than August 1, 2025.

Please contact the summer counselor at your high school or email dual_enrollment@k12-lets-talk.com with any questions. Additional information for dual enrollment can be found on our district website. 

Out-of-School Time (OST) programs provide structured enrichment opportunities to young students while school is not in session. There is a wide variety of OST programming available through the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at USF (USF-CARD), including swim lessons and summer camps for students with autism and related disabilities.

Check out the community calendar and summer camps to get involved and find activities near you, tailored to your needs. 

Join us at USF Tampa for our summer career camp covering self advocacy and counseling on enrollment topics. Participants will explore educational options in their career pathway, whether it be college, trade school, or straight into the workforce. Students learn to effectively communicate their strengths, abilities, interests and needs through self-advocacy training when interviewing with potential employers or applying to trade schools, colleges, or universities.

Camp Requirements:

• Age 16-21
• Enrolled in high school or a postsecondary program
• Has an IEP or 504 plan
• Diagnosis of a lifelong or acquired disability
• Utilizes a functional communication system
• Clear desire to participate in the training
• Regulate his/her behavior with minimal directions

Please visit the LAUNCH website for more details.

School Choice notifications for the June 2025 open enrollment window will be sent via email on July 21, 2025. Parents will then need to accept or decline any choices they were offered by July 25, 2025 in their Parent Portal.

Additional information around school choice can be found on our Pasco Pathways School Choice website. For questions, please email pascopathways@k12-lets-talk.com.

The Autism Summer Institute is an annual workshop aimed at providing high quality professional development to a wide spectrum of professionals, including ESE and general education teachers, guidance counselors, school psychologists, SLPs, OTs, instructional assistants, administrators, and parents who impact the lives of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Join us July 15 and 16 as we explore this year’s topic of “Communication Strategies and Additional Supports for Success in the Classroom and Beyond.”

Pasco Schools employees should register through MyPGS: Course #5882

Pasco parents can register to participate too!

Pasco County students have an exciting opportunity to get ahead through Career Dual Enrollment—a powerful program that blends high school and career training into one seamless experience. Students can earn technical skills and academic knowledge that prepare them for college, career, and life—all while still in high school! 

Through partnerships with Fred K. Marchman Technical College (FKMTC), Pinellas Technical College (PTC), and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, students can explore career certificate programs in high-demand fields. Even better? Tuition and textbooks are completely free, saving families money while accelerating students’ paths to success. 

Career Dual Enrollment students stay enrolled at their home schools while gaining hands-on experience and earning credentials that give them a competitive edge in the workforce or in future college programs. 

For more information, please visit us Career Dual Enrollment page.

Pasco County Schools is proud to offer students a head start in their future careers through Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways! These pathways are more than just classes—they are a series of structured, hands-on learning experiences designed to prepare students for real-world success. 

Through CTE pathways, Pasco County students can explore their passions and build valuable skills across 14 of the 17 nationally recognized career clusters, from health science and information technology to agriculture, business, and beyond. Each program is carefully aligned with current labor market demands, ensuring students are gaining relevant, in-demand skills. 

What makes these pathways even more powerful? Students have the chance to earn industry-recognized certifications and participate in robust work-based learning experiences that boost their employability and confidence. 

Whether your student aspires to be a nurse, a graphic designer, a welder, or an entrepreneur, Pasco County Schools offers a pathway to help them achieve their goals Learn more about the exciting programs available by visiting the Career Pathways page. 

Together, we are preparing today for tomorrow's workforce!

The Innovation Station is not your average school bus—it's a high-tech, mobile career exploration lab designed to ignite curiosity and inspire young minds! Aligned with Pasco County’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and Florida state standards, this traveling classroom brings hands-on, real-world learning experiences directly to elementary students.

From architecture and electricity to health sciences and criminal justice, each unit introduces students to exciting career paths through interactive, age-appropriate activities. It’s more than just fun—it’s foundational. By sparking early interest in diverse careers, the Innovation Station helps students connect classroom learning to future opportunities, building confidence, creativity, and a vision for what’s possible.

Because when kids can see it, touch it, and try it—they can dream it. And that is where the future begins. In Career and Technical Education, we are preparing today for tomorrow’s workforce.

From May 18 to August 2, Pasco County Library readers of all ages can sign up for this year's Summer Reading Quest through Beanstack. Log your reading minutes and complete fun activities throughout the summer. Visit the Pasco County Libraries website for more information.

Reading with the Rays returns again this season! From now through the end of summer, kids can slide into a great book, track their reading, and earn awesome prizes. This year, when you hit 24 hours of reading, you’ll get a Suncoast Minor Savings Account with a $24 deposit to celebrate your achievement. Get your Reading with the Rays game card.

From May 9 through September 12, kids can visit the summer zone in Scholastic Home Base, a free digital destination which offers stories, characters, games, and a community of readers. By creating an account on Home Base, kids will be able to read books and stories, attend author events, interact with their favorite characters, play book-based games and activities, join dance parties, and more!

The Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program is popular with students in first through sixth grades and educators throughout America. Participation is a fun and easy way for kids to earn free books. Kids simply read a designated number of books – library books, books borrowed from friends or books bought at Barnes & Noble. Then, kids write about their favorite part in their Reading Journal, and bring a completed journal to a Barnes & Noble bookstore. Visit the Barnes & Noble website for more information.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable summer, remember to prioritize hydration, sun protection, and be mindful of heat-related illnesses. Always wear sunscreen, drink plenty of water, and be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Additionally, when participating in activities, especially those involving water or heights, wear appropriate protective gear and supervise children closely.

Here's a more detailed breakdown regarding heat safety:

• Hydration - Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don't feel thirsty. Consider electrolyte-rich drinks if you're sweating heavily.
• Sun Protection - Wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, reapply every two hours, and seek shade during peak sun hours (10 am to 4 pm). Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes.
• Clothing - Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothing to help your body regulate temperature.
• Limit Outdoor Activities - Schedule strenuous activities for cooler parts of the day and take breaks in air-conditioned spaces.
• Never Leave Anyone in a Car - Temperatures inside a parked car can rise rapidly, even with the windows cracked.