Broward County Schools Implement Lunch Program Changes and Bus Safety Cameras for Upcoming Academic Year

Broward County Public Schools will launch its academic year on August 10 with several significant operational changes affecting families and students. The district is rolling out updates to meal assistance programs, implementing new transportation safety technology, and preparing for campus consolidations scheduled for the 2027-28 school year.

Under the federal Community Eligibility Provision Program, 141 Broward schools will automatically provide free lunch to all students without requiring applications. At the remaining 80 schools, students will receive complimentary breakfast while lunch eligibility will depend on parents completing a meal benefits application form, according to Dr. Valerie Wanza, the district’s chief strategy and innovation officer.

The district’s Redefining Plan will close six campuses this year, with as many as 10 additional schools potentially facing closure due to declining enrollment. The consolidation decisions consider enrollment numbers, facility conditions, and projected student population trends. District officials will finalize the plan on August 25.

Parents must verify their children are registered at the correct school and monitor communications from their assigned campus, Wanza emphasized. The district is deploying AI-powered camera systems on 1,300 school buses to enhance student safety during loading and unloading. Drivers who pass stopped buses during student loading face $225 citations.

All Broward schools will continue offering free breakfast to students throughout the academic year.