On Thursday, October 23, the School Board will take final action on a recommendation to move high school start times later, beginning between 8 and 8:10 a.m. The recommendation has all middle schools beginning at 7:30 a.m. and the majority of elementary schools starting at the same time or within five minutes of their current start time. The remaining elementary schools (approximately 25) will start within 10 minutes of their current start time. If approved by the School Board, this change will not take place until the 2015-16 school year.

This change is being considered due to the compelling evidence that later high school start times for students result in better grades, less depression, fewer behavioral issues, and lower risk of car crashes, among other benefits. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued a statement in strong support of later school start times for teens to address chronic sleep deprivation among adolescents and to improve teen health, academic performance, and safety.

MOAR: http://www.fcps.edu/cco/pubs/myfcps/family/2014_10_22/starttimesvote.shtml

Let the redistribution begin!