Austin ISD students head back to school

It's the first day of school for more than 80,000 Austin Independent School District students. AISD and the Austin Police Department are teaming up to make sure every students gets to and from school safe.

APD is working with the district over the next several days. Whether kids are getting to school by bus, bike, car or on foot, police say their goal is to provide every student the safest environment.

For the next two weeks, police will hold a Back to School Traffic Safety Initiative. Officers will focus on school zones and look for drivers who are speeding, using cell phones, passing school buses while loading and unloading and disregarding school crossing guards.

Officials remind drivers of the following school zone safety tips:

• Slow down in school zones
• Stop for school buses
• Watch for children
• Stay off phones

For those who are walking there are these reminders:

• Utilize crossing guards
• Pay attention: stay off phones
• Use crosswalks when crossing the street
• Make you're visible to drivers. Make eye contact when possible.

In addition, the AISD Police Department has added six new officers.

Other changes this year include a clear bag policy for sporting events and other activities.

AISD is also adding a dual language high school. There are also new construction projects which involves relocating many students to different facilities.

Some Central Texas students still have a few days of summer left. Eanes heads back on 8/22 while Del Valle, Hays Consolidated and San Marcos Consolidated all head back 8/27.