‘We’re starting well this year’: School is back in session in Broward County

At Broward County Public Schools, Superintendent Howard Hepburn said the first day of school went smoothly, besides a couple air conditioning glitches.

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“You want to start how you want to finish,” Hepburn said at a press conference. “We’re starting well this year.”

The school district, which has been dealing with a budget crisis due to declining enrollment, saw another decrease. So far, about 180,000 students are enrolled this year, a decrease of 11,000. That equates to a loss of about $100 million in funding, which the district already accounted for in its budget, Hepburn said.

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Hepburn noted that in the seven schools he visited today, he saw parents and students enrolling in front offices. The district will have official enrollment data on Sept. 14.

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This story was originally published August 10, 2026 at 3:49 PM.