middle school start times

[Anonymous]

Apparently there's a study going on regarding changing middle school start times. Any guesses on whether this would be implemented for 24-25? Seems too soon but my 7th grader would be thrilled.

https://www.fcps.edu/node/49204?utm_campaign+=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

[Anonymous]

Yes! Let's do that!

[Anonymous]

I hope so! In my opinion it makes sense to have middle school at 9:20-4:05. This schedule is terrible for the little ones.

[Anonymous]

I hope the time stays the same.

I've taught middle school in different districts for over 25 years and have worked in schools that began at 7:30, 8:00, 8:15, and 8:30. The worst academic performance was in the students who started at 8:30 because they were DONE by 2:00, so their last class of the day was a waste.

Staff absences were also higher when school started later and teacher absences definitely had a negative impact on students. Teachers couldn't get appointments past 3:00, so they'd just take the entire day off to accommodate for an appointment. Middle school is when students need connections with teachers the most so absences were a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Longfellow MS is 7:30-2:15. It seems too early but thankfully it’s only 2 years. I would rather have that time slot for middle school than HS or elementary.

[Anonymous]

Yes it would start next year if approved. I can’t believe they are studying this again after all the work to change the times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Longfellow MS is 7:30-2:15. It seems too early but thankfully it’s only 2 years. I would rather have that time slot for middle school than HS or elementary.

Aren't all FCPS middle schools (other than Hayfield, Robinson, and Lake Braddock) on that 7:30-2:15 schedule?

[Anonymous]

It’s not for next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes it would start next year if approved. I can’t believe they are studying this again after all the work to change the times.

In the FCPS article linked above (https://www.fcps.edu/node/49204?utm_campaign+=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery) it says, "In October 2014, the board voted to delay high school start times to 8 a.m. or after, beginning in the 2015-16 school year. As a result, middle school start times moved up to 7:30 a.m. FCPS’ superintendent in 2015 stated that she would consider pushing back middle school start times at a later date." So Garza kicked the can down the road on middle school times... it's only taken then 8 years to get back to it.

[Anonymous]

How would this possibly be done in a cost-neutral way and without affecting HS start times? I’ll be shocked if they can do this (happy for my youngest, but shocked). My HSer’s bus route was just dissolved due to a driver shortage. No way they have enough drivers to have overlapping HS and MS runs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not for next year.

It says recommendations to be presented in January 2024 and voting in spring and that it would be for the following school year.

[Anonymous]

But what would this mean for elementary? My kids go to a late start elementary and it is really perfect for us. They need a lot of sleep, they naturally wake up at 8am and they have plenty of time to get ready for a bus that comes at 9:00. They get home at 4:30 which means one parent can sign off work and be present for them. If the schedule shifts an hour earlier, it messes up everything for us.

[Anonymous]

My kid needs a lot of sleep too but he has to get up at 5:30 to catch the bus in the dark at 6:30 so I just try to get him to go to bed earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes it would start next year if approved. I can’t believe they are studying this again after all the work to change the times.

In the FCPS article linked above (https://www.fcps.edu/node/49204?utm_campaign+=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery) it says, "In October 2014, the board voted to delay high school start times to 8 a.m. or after, beginning in the 2015-16 school year. As a result, middle school start times moved up to 7:30 a.m. FCPS’ superintendent in 2015 stated that she would consider pushing back middle school start times at a later date." So Garza kicked the can down the road on middle school times... it's only taken then 8 years to get back to it.

Incompetence.

The fpcs link above describes surveys and contracts for studies dating back to 2011 that have already shown that it would be better to delay start times and let kids get more sleep.

Now yet another consultant is to be hired to help with decisions on the same overdue and well studied change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope the time stays the same.

I've taught middle school in different districts for over 25 years and have worked in schools that began at 7:30, 8:00, 8:15, and 8:30. The worst academic performance was in the students who started at 8:30 because they were DONE by 2:00, so their last class of the day was a waste.

Staff absences were also higher when school started later and teacher absences definitely had a negative impact on students. Teachers couldn't get appointments past 3:00, so they'd just take the entire day off to accommodate for an appointment. Middle school is when students need connections with teachers the most so absences were a big deal.

Bullshit