Back to school: Return to the classroom for students in Raleigh, Durham and Cumberland Counties
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Students who go to schools on a traditional calendar in Wake, Durham and Cumberland counties are getting ready to get back in the classroom.
Wake County Public School System
When it comes to bus transportation, parents of students can get up-to-the-minute notifications via text and/or email when their child's bus is delayed. Click here for updated bus routes.
To continue providing safe environments, all schools have upgraded their visitor sign-in procedures to a district-wide Visitor Management System. For more information on that click here.
WCPSS has transitioned from using PowerSchool to Infinite Campus. It is a new online system for schools in North Carolina to manage student data, including grades, attendance, household information, and more.
The school board approved a 25-cent price increase for school meals for the 2025-26 school year.
At elementary schools, full-paid breakfast will be $2.00 and lunch will be $3.75. At middle and high schools, full-paid breakfast will be $2.25 and lunch will be $4.00. According to WCPSS, 36% of all students receive free or reduced lunch. Each day, the district says it serves a little more than 50,000 lunch meals.
RELATED STORIES: Wake school board passes policy to restrict student cell phones
Durham Public Schools
There are some new items this year for DPS students and parents.
Starting this school year, a new law requires that all North Carolina students must keep their cellphones and other wireless communication devices turned off and put away during class. This means that devices cannot be used for texting, calling, accessing social media, or any other purpose.
Devices can be used during non-instructional time. House Bill 959 also requires schools to teach social media literacy skills to students.
DPS will launch a districtwide two-way messaging tool. Rooms, is part of the same platform that runs the district website and app, which will integrate and streamline the process for teachers and district leaders to communicate with families.
Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, a $15 annual technology fee is required for students in grades K-5 and a $30 annual technology fee is required for students in grades 6-12.
The school system said the technology fee is to support device sustainability and repair. This fee covers one accidental damage repair per school year (e.g., cracked screen, keyboard damage).
It does not cover lost devices, intentional damage, or multiple incidents of damage.
If a second accidental damage happens in the same school year the family will be responsible for the full cost of repairs or replacement.
SEE ALSO | Former Durham superintendent starts over in Buffalo following tenuous DPS exit: 'Learned my lesson'
Grade school students in North Carolina must be up-to-date on their immunizations. An immunization record for your child must be provided within the first 30 days of school. If the immunization record is not submitted by the 30th day, your child will not be allowed to attend school until proof of immunization is provided.
DPS has also kept Family Responsibility Zones in place when its comes to bus transportation. The zones for 21 elementary schools, establish walk zones that extend for up to a one and one half mile radius around a school.
School bus transportation is not offered in these zones and families are responsible for getting their student to and from school.
Cumberland County Schools
CCS is taking steps to reduce chronic absenteeism with the rollout of a revised attendance policy. The updated policy went into effect on January 1 for high school students and will expand to include elementary and middle school students at the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
Middle and high school students will continue to have access to mental wellness tools and self-guided support.
CCS sent a reminder this year that only authorized school personnel and students are permitted on school buses. Last year, the district observed a rise in families boarding school buses to address concerns.
If parents have concerns or issues, they are encouraged to contact a school administrator.
There is also a Language Support Line for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) families designed to make communication easier and more inclusive.
Orange County Schools
OCS will hold Open House nights on August 21. Elementary Schools will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Middle Schools will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. High Schools: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Everything parents need from requesting a new bus route to locating your child's bus can be found here.
Find out what supplies are needed for students.
SEE ALSO: As federal funding cuts loom, Orange County school leaders discuss budget
