While most of the schools in the Crossroads area start school on Wednesday, August 9th! However, many school districts in the State of Texas begin today and will be utilizing a four-day school week.  One of those districts is Crosbly Independent School District, near Houston, which is the first district in Harris County to change to a 4-day school week.  According to click2hsouton.com, District officials said they moved to a four-day week to help recruit and retain quality teachers.

It appears this has worked! According to the article, the district has seen improvement, as recruitment of certified teachers has risen up to 70% compared to last year.

The four-day school week does not start immediately, though. The district will start the year with a five-day school week this month, then transition to a four-day week after September. To make up for time, district officials added an additional 25 minutes to the school day.

TAX-FREE WEEKEND:

This year’s sale tax holiday begins Friday, Aug. 11, and goes through midnight Sunday, Aug. 13.  Save the sales tax on school supplies, clothes, and more. For a complete list of what you CAN buy clothes-wise tax-free just click here. This list comes straight from the Texas Tax Comptroller's Office. When it comes to school supplies remember, only the school supplies on this list priced under $100 qualify for exemption from tax during the sales tax holiday.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: 

Only the school supplies on this list priced under $100 qualify for exemption from tax during the sales tax holiday.

AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images
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  • Binders
  • Blackboard chalk
  • Book bags
  • Calculators
  • Cellophane tape
  • Compasses
  • Composition books
  • Crayons
  • Erasers
  • Folders – expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila
  • Glue, paste and paste sticks
  • Highlighters
  • Index cards
  • Index card boxes
  • Kits*
  • Legal pads
  • Lunch boxes
  • Markers (including dry erase markers)
  • Notebooks
  • Paper – loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper
  • Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
  • Pencil sharpeners
  • Pencils
  • Pens
  • Protractors
  • Rulers
  • Scissors
  • Writing tablets

CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR:

The Washington Post via Getty Im
The Washington Post via Getty Im
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During the sales tax holiday, you can buy most footwear and clothing (sold for less than $100) tax-free. You do not need to give the seller an exemption certificate.

The exemption applies to each eligible item sold for less than $100, and there is no limit to the number of qualifying items you can buy.

 BACKPACKS:

Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bloomberg via Getty Images
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During the sales tax holiday, student backpacks sold for less than $100 are exempt from tax.

The exemption includes backpacks with wheels and messenger bags. You can buy up to 10 backpacks tax-free at one time without giving an exemption certificate to the seller.

FOR A FULL LIST OF TAX-FREE BACK-TO-SCHOOL ITEMS, CLICK HERE.

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