As we prepare to welcome students for the 2026-2027 school year, we are proud to celebrate Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) earning its first A district grade since 2014.
As an A-graded district, we are committed to building on this success and continuing to provide outstanding opportunities and support for every student. We want to share some important information about this school year.
Elementary Students: New HCPS Screen Time Guidance
Based on research about how young children learn best, Hillsborough County Public Schools is making changes to reduce screen time for our youngest learners and increase hands-on, engaging learning experiences. Students in grades K–2 will spend more time reading printed books, writing, discussing ideas, and participating in activities that support language and literacy development.
As part of this change, programs such as i-Ready, Amira, and Imagine Learning will no longer be used as part of daily classroom instruction in grades K–2. Our goal is to ensure students are building strong foundational reading and math skills through meaningful interactions with teachers, classmates, and learning materials.
These decisions were made with students' best interests in mind and are based on growing research that supports more authentic learning experiences for young children.
The attached HCPS Screen Time Guidance provides additional information about these changes.
Elementary, Middle, and K-8 Students: Referendum/Millage Field Trip Information
We are also excited to launch the Referendum-funded Millage Field Trip Program for the 2026-2027 school year. Through this new program, every student in PreK through 8th grade will have the opportunity to participate in a grade-level field trip. Thanks to our community for approving the millage referendum, the trips will be at no cost to families or schools.
These experiences are designed to support what students are learning in the classroom while giving them opportunities to explore, discover, and make real-world connections. We look forward to providing students with engaging, hands-on learning experiences that bring their lessons to life.
Middle and High School Students: Reduction in "Redundant Testing"
We know that time spent learning in the classroom is valuable. After listening to feedback from teachers and reviewing our testing practices, HCPS is continuing efforts to reduce unnecessary testing and give students more time for instruction.
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, 82 semester exams for middle and high school students will be eliminated. This change builds on previous efforts to remove redundant assessments at the elementary level. Students will still participate in important assessments that help teachers monitor progress and support learning, but with fewer unnecessary tests taking time away from instruction.
By streamlining assessments, we can maximize teaching and learning time while continuing to ensure students receive the support they need to succeed.
A list of the secondary courses where semester exams have been eliminated is available here.
Our recent A-district grade reflects what is possible when educators, families, students, and the community work together. We are excited to continue that partnership and build on this success in the year ahead.
We look forward to welcoming our students back to school soon and making the 2026-2027 school year our best yet!