Breckenridge Texan

The 2026-27 school year kicks off for Breckenridge students bright and early tomorrow morning, Monday, Aug. 10.

For the new year, classes will start at 7:45 a.m. (East Elementary, junior high and high school) or 7:55 a.m. (South Elementary) and wrap up between 3:30 and 3:45 p.m., depending on the school and grade level.

First-grade teacher Angela Palacios, left, talks with the Hayworth family at Meet the Teacher. Pictured from right are Matthew and Kenzi Hayworth; second-grader Iris; and first-grader Amelia. Not pictured is the Arthur, who is going into Pre-K. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The first month of school, Breckenridge Independent School District will have classes for all five weeks. School will be out for Labor Day on Sept. 7 and for a staff development day on Sept. 18. Then, it’s back to five-day weeks until the Thanksgiving holiday. During the spring semester, most weeks will have four days of classes with Fridays off.

Local drivers need to be alert for students who may be walking or riding their bikes to and from school. Additionally, the areas near the schools will likely have a lot of traffic during school drop-off and pick-up times, especially during the first week of school. Breckenridge has several school zones that, when active, will have reduced speed limits and a ban on the use of handheld electronic devices, including cell phones.

Reminders from the Texas DPS

As students head back to the classroom, the Texas Department of Public Safety reminds all Texans to exercise heightened caution and adhere to safety measures implemented to protect students, staff and fellow drivers this school year. This includes tips on how to safely drop off and pick up your child from school, drive cautiously through school zones and talk to your family and loved ones about staying safe this school year and beyond.

“As students head back to school, we’re asking every driver to make safety their top priority,” said Texas Highway Patrol Chief Bryan Rippee. “Slow down, eliminate distractions and remain alert—especially in school zones, at bus stops and in high-volume traffic areas. Every child deserves to arrive at school and return home safely, and that starts with each of us making responsible decisions behind the wheel.”

Lily Speck poses for a picture with her teacher, Angela Palacios, during Meet the Teacher at Breckenridge’s East Elementary School last week. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Driving Tips:

• Give students extra room and don’t assume they are paying attention to your vehicle. Students are often distracted by mobile devices, electronic devices or by other students, and they may not be paying attention.
• Don’t block crosswalks when stopped at a red light or stop sign.
• Follow the directions of school crossing guards.
• Watch for children on bicycles traveling to and from schools.
• Reduce your speed when you spot a school bus and know children may unexpectedly step into the road without checking for traffic.
• Be careful around railroad crossings. School buses are legally required to stop at them.
• Know the laws regarding school buses. According to Texas law, if a bus has alternating flashing red signals visible from the front or rear, drivers must stop before reaching the bus. Drivers can only proceed if the flashing lights are no longer activated, the driver signals you to proceed or the bus has resumed driving. Approaching drivers do not have to stop for a school bus that is operating a visual signal if the road is separated by a physical barrier or an intervening space. If a highway is only divided by a left-turn lane, it is not considered divided, and drivers must stop for school buses.
• Drivers who illegally pass a school bus face fines up to $1,250 for the first offense. For people convicted of the offense more than once, the law allows for the person’s driver license to be suspended for up to six months. Criminal charges are possible if a driver causes someone serious bodily injury.
• Always obey speed limits and traffic laws in school zones.
• Remember, texting while driving is illegal in Texas.

Sena Yanez, left, and her son, Russel Yanez, visit with kindergarten teacher Angela Palacios during Thursday evening’s Meet the Teacher event at East Elementary. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

TxDOT says drive smart in school zones

As families gather back-to-school supplies, Texas drivers should be gearing up for the return of school-related traffic. That means paying extra attention in school zones and around school buses to help keep kids safe.

School zones can be chaotic places, with people in a rush and children not always watching for cars while they hop on and off buses or in and out of cars. Drivers can become impatient or distracted, which leads to mistakes. In 2025, there were 877 traffic crashes in Texas school zones, a 12% increase from the previous year. Also last year, 2,358 collisions involved school buses. Distracted driving and speeding were the most common contributing factors in these crashes.

TxDOT urges drivers to slow down, stay alert and follow the rules of the road to keep children safe. Parents and guardians can also help teach their kids about ways to stay safe when walking or biking to school.

Tips for driving in school zones

• Look for flashing school zone lights in the morning and afternoon and obey school zone speed limits. Traffic fines increase in school zones.
• Stay alert and put your phone out of reach. Using a handheld electronic device while driving in an active school zone is against the law.
• Stop and yield to people in crosswalks.
• Drop off and pick up your kids in your school’s designated areas, not the middle of the street.
• Be on the lookout for children gathered at bus stops.
• Watch for kids who might dart across the street or between vehicles.

Tips for children walking or biking to school

• Use sidewalks. If there’s not one, it’s best to walk on the left side of the street facing traffic.
• Cross the street only at intersections or crosswalks. Wait for the signal and look left, right and left again before crossing.
• Always obey crossing guards.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Never assume a driver sees you.
• Look for traffic when stepping off a bus or from behind parked vehicles.
• Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or scooter.
• Don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes and ears off the road.

Families gathered in the East Elementary cafeteria on Thursday, Aug. 6, to fill out paperwork before visiting with the teachers. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

BISD Information

For more information about the school year, as well as upcoming events and activities, visit the Breckenridge ISD website, www.breckenridgeisd.org.

2026-2027 BISD Calendar (Click here to download a PDF of the schedule.)

The halls and many classrooms at Breckenridge’s East Elementary are decorated with a camp theme, as everyone gets ready for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 10. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Kindergarten teacher Tiffany Flores, left, welcomes Malachi Funderburg during the Meet the Teacher event on Thursday, Aug. 6. Malachi was with his family, from center, Lillian Perez, Stone Smith, Kendra Funderburg and Balee Smith. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)