Summer vacation has ended for many students as Monday ushered in the start of a new school year for several North Texas districts.
With approximately 38,000 students enrolled, Mesquite Independent School District is one of the largest districts opening its doors to students on August 7.
Other districts opening on Monday, like Anna ISD, Mineral Wells ISD, and Palo Pinto ISD, have opted for the four-day school week.
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, a number of districts across Texas have adopted this new schedule in a bid to attract and retain teachers amid a nationwide shortage.
For instance, Anna ISD, a small district of eight schools and just under 4,000 students enrolled, decided to test the new schedule for three years after a survey found 72% of parents and 87% of staff approved of the measure.
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, smaller school districts, in particular, have been struggling to fully staff their schools.
Mesquite ISD ultimately voted against moving to a four-day school week due to concerns that the shortened schedule might negatively impact students’ learning.
Alongside Dallas ISD, which opens on August 14, Mesquite ISD has implemented a new clear backpack policy for students in grades K-12.
As reported in The Dallas Express, district officials say that the measure will enhance safety by barring students from carrying any bag — including purses, totes, and backpacks — that is not see-through. The only exception is a small personal item container for hygiene products and money.
There has been some debate among education and security experts and parents as to whether the clear backpack policy will actually boost campus security, as The Dallas Express reported.
Several districts have revamped their security protocols for the upcoming 2023-24 year. For instance, Frisco ISD, which opens on August 9, has instituted a new student ID system and installed video doorbells at school building entrances.
Other North Texas school districts kicking off the term this week are as follows:
Tuesday, August 8
Corsicana ISD
Garland ISD
Godley ISD
Wednesday, August 9
Castleberry ISD
Frisco ISD
Italy ISD
Keene ISD
Lake Dallas ISD
Lewisville ISD
Lovejoy ISD
McKinney ISD
Montague ISD
Plano ISD
Prosper ISD
Rio Vista ISD
Terrell ISD
Thursday, August 10
Allen ISD
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
Commerce ISD
Crowley ISD
Decatur ISD
Denton ISD
Duncanville ISD
Ennis ISD
Forney ISD
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD
Little Elm ISD
Maypearl ISD
Palestine ISD
Princeton ISD
Red Oak ISD
Van Alstyne ISD
Waxahachie ISD
Wylie ISD
