A version of the following article appeared in the August 24, 2026, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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From bus tracking to lunch prices, here’s what’s changing as students return Tuesday
by Tony Mecia
Tuesday is the first day of classes for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the state’s second-largest district.
That means a return to waiting for buses, early wake-ups, carpool lines and filling out oh-so-many back-to-school forms.
Here are 10 pieces of information that parents should know, gleaned from CMS communications and a media briefing last week:
Tomorrow is the first day, but not for everyone: While most of CMS’ 139,000+ students return Tuesday, high school students participating in programs on college campuses started Aug. 10 and 11. Kindergarten has staggered entry Tuesday-Thursday this week, with the first full day Friday. The first full day of pre-K is Sept. 2.
New bus-tracking app: Forget “Here Comes the Bus.” It’s being replaced by AlphaPortal, which lets parents track buses in real time, receive arrival notifications and more.
2 other apps to download: CMS says that besides AlphaPortal, parents need to download Infinite Campus (grades, schedules, attendance, records, forms) and ParentSquare (messages from teachers, schools and the district).
Back-to-school forms have gone digital: Parents can fill out the required annual student forms on the Infinite Campus app. After logging in, parents should choose “Online Registration Update” and then “Complete Back to School Forms.” CMS is asking families to complete them by the first day of school.
Keep the phones put away: CMS students must keep cellphones, smartwatches, personal tablets and other devices “off and away” during instructional time, a policy adopted last school year following a new state law. Schools can set their own rules for use during non-instructional periods, and CMS is asking parents to review the rules with their children before school starts.
Less screen time for younger students: K-2 students will no longer independently access YouTube on their iPads, but teachers can lead classes in using YouTube. CMS says technology should be used only when needed for learning and not as a substitute for physical activity during indoor recess. (Some parents had expressed concerns about too much screen time for younger students.)
Fewer benchmarking tests: CMS says students in grades 3-8 and high school courses with state end-of-course exams will take two benchmark assessments this year instead of three. Schools that want to administer additional assessments will need approval.
Breakfast still free, lunch costs a little more: Breakfast is free districtwide. Paid lunch prices are increasing by 10 cents because of higher food costs, district officials said: It’s now $2.60 for pre-K, $2.85 for K-8 and $3.10 for high school. Lunch is also free for all at 114 CMS schools with high-need student populations, the district said.
Crime down: State data shows that from 2021-22 through 2024-25, total criminal acts at CMS fell 18%, incidents involving weapons other than firearms declined 62%, and incidents involving firearms fell 93%, from 29 incidents to three, according to CMS officials. Data from 2025-26 will be available in January.
Staffing vacancies: CMS said last week that it had 161 teacher vacancies, or about 50 fewer than last year, and 98 bus-driver vacancies, similar to last year. All the bus routes will still run, using existing employees.
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Superintendent’s advice to parents: ‘Don’t be afraid to ask questions’
Superintendent Crystal Hill and other top CMS officials discussed back-to-school preparations with the media last week. (Photo: Tony Mecia/The Charlotte Ledger)
At last week’s media briefing, The Ledger asked Superintendent Crystal Hill what advice she had for parents.
She replied:
My message would be that parents are always their child’s first and best advocate. So, ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. We welcome them.
Meet with your child’s teacher.
Check their grades and their schedule.
Download those apps, and just stay connected.
Ask your child every single day — even with the ones that are seniors, like mine — “How was your day? What did you do today? Did you turn in your homework? Do you have any deadlines?” All of those things are just extremely important.