MCPS High School 7:45am for teens is to early

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10:14 again- the only way I could ever see MCPS changing on this is if the tide turns against them, i.e. other area districts make the switch en masse. IIRC only Loudon has tried so far.

Many other districts start later than MCPS.
DCPS, Loudon, Arlington, Howard, etc all start later.
Most states start high school later than MCPS.
But somehow people here think logistical issues are unsolvable in MCPS.
Makes me feel like our county is backward thinking and not solution oriented

Howard starts earlier than MCPS.
7:25 a.m. – 2:10 p.m.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10:14 again- the only way I could ever see MCPS changing on this is if the tide turns against them, i.e. other area districts make the switch en masse. IIRC only Loudon has tried so far.

Many other districts start later than MCPS.
DCPS, Loudon, Arlington, Howard, etc all start later.
Most states start high school later than MCPS.
But somehow people here think logistical issues are unsolvable in MCPS.
Makes me feel like our county is backward thinking and not solution oriented

Nobody has said that they are unsolvable. MCPS can solve them, by either (1) redirecting a lot of school funding to buses and bus drivers, or (2) shifting the current schedule. MCPS has twice decided that the potential disadvantages of either option outweigh the potential advantages. It's valid to say that you disagree with this decision. It's not valid to say that MCPS didn't consider the options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was in Mcps high school began around 710am

And you walked to school uphill both ways. We get it.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I just moved to MoCo and am shocked by the late elementary start time! That's going to be a major adjustment. My kids will enjoy the long morning at home, though- I think.

Also, I went to a HS that started at 7:30 and that was just awful. I remember being tired all the time and constantly late. Makes zero sense.

Before the pandemic we put our elementary school kids in before care. Now that my spouse has a flexible work schedule and can work from home most days, he can drop them off by 9am.
I think that switching the elementary school and high school start times, although not ideal, would be better than what we have now.

This option was thoroughly discussed both of the previous times MCPS studied the options. MCPS decided, on grounds that you personally may disagree with, that it would not be better than what we have now.

Sounds like MCPS decided it would be easier on them not to change anything.

MCPS did make a change, though. So: no.

Yes, just not the right change.

"The right change" means the one you wanted.

The one that prioritizes the physical and mental well-being of teenagers, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10:14 again- the only way I could ever see MCPS changing on this is if the tide turns against them, i.e. other area districts make the switch en masse. IIRC only Loudon has tried so far.

Many other districts start later than MCPS.
DCPS, Loudon, Arlington, Howard, etc all start later.
Most states start high school later than MCPS.
But somehow people here think logistical issues are unsolvable in MCPS.
Makes me feel like our county is backward thinking and not solution oriented

Nobody has said that they are unsolvable. MCPS can solve them, by either (1) redirecting a lot of school funding to buses and bus drivers, or (2) shifting the current schedule. MCPS has twice decided that the potential disadvantages of either option outweigh the potential advantages. It's valid to say that you disagree with this decision. It's not valid to say that MCPS didn't consider the options.

are you willing to be a driver?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10:14 again- the only way I could ever see MCPS changing on this is if the tide turns against them, i.e. other area districts make the switch en masse. IIRC only Loudon has tried so far.

Many other districts start later than MCPS.
DCPS, Loudon, Arlington, Howard, etc all start later.
Most states start high school later than MCPS.
But somehow people here think logistical issues are unsolvable in MCPS.
Makes me feel like our county is backward thinking and not solution oriented

Nobody has said that they are unsolvable. MCPS can solve them, by either (1) redirecting a lot of school funding to buses and bus drivers, or (2) shifting the current schedule. MCPS has twice decided that the potential disadvantages of either option outweigh the potential advantages. It's valid to say that you disagree with this decision. It's not valid to say that MCPS didn't consider the options.

are you willing to be a driver?

There is an obvious solution to the bus driver shortage. MCPS needs to pay them more. You cannot pay pennies and expect people to work.
Same with teachers. If there is a shortage, increase pay. That is how things work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10:14 again- the only way I could ever see MCPS changing on this is if the tide turns against them, i.e. other area districts make the switch en masse. IIRC only Loudon has tried so far.

Many other districts start later than MCPS.
DCPS, Loudon, Arlington, Howard, etc all start later.
Most states start high school later than MCPS.
But somehow people here think logistical issues are unsolvable in MCPS.
Makes me feel like our county is backward thinking and not solution oriented

Nobody has said that they are unsolvable. MCPS can solve them, by either (1) redirecting a lot of school funding to buses and bus drivers, or (2) shifting the current schedule. MCPS has twice decided that the potential disadvantages of either option outweigh the potential advantages. It's valid to say that you disagree with this decision. It's not valid to say that MCPS didn't consider the options.

are you willing to be a driver?

There is an obvious solution to the bus driver shortage. MCPS needs to pay them more. You cannot pay pennies and expect people to work.
Same with teachers. If there is a shortage, increase pay. That is how things work

In this obvious solution, what should MCPS stop paying for, in order to pay for more bus drivers, so that high school students can start school at a non-ridiculously-early time? Keeping in mind that even underpaid labor is expensive.

There's also the issue that everyone is having a bus driver shortage, including public transportation agencies that pay quite well.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This start time is pretty typical everywhere. DC is the anomaly, and I love it for my kids.

Loudoun also has a reversed schedule. Our local highschool starts at 9:30am. The local elementary bus picks up the kids at 6:30am (which is ridiculous imo) and the school day (elem) starts at 7:15am.

The highschoolers don't get out of school until close to 4:30pm (4:20ish), then don't get home until close to 5:00pm. From what I've heard, those that do sports/activities/etc. and are academically motivated wind up going to bed after midnight by the time they fit in all of their commitments and homework. So the lack of sleep can be the same as those with an early schedule, just shifted.

No, their body clock dictates that around 11 pm is aligned with when they get tired to go to sleep. If you send a teen to bed at 9, they’ll just lie awake.

I don’t care of my kids lie awake. They go to bed when I tell them. Getting home that late means kids miss outside activities or have to do them before school. So, it’s swim at 4pm or swim at 4 am.

The horror or swimming at 4 pm!!!

Oh, dear. You’re not very bright. You see, the swimming at 4:00PM is *now,* with the current schedule. The schedule is not going to change no matter how much you whine.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The reason DCOS can do that is that they do t run school buses. Unfortunately not an option in MoCo unless they switch elementary to start early, which I would support but many other don’t.

If ES started at 7:45 and got out at 2:30, many more thousands of seats in aftercare would be needed.

Not sure how many times you need to hear this before you get it but school is not your free daycare service. Don’t rely on school before having children. Do research. Make sure you can afford it. I’m a parent and I’m so tired of this… it makes the rest of us look bad. Most of us have shit together.

I think the people arguing that school needs to start later because they can't enforce a bedtime for their children shouldn't be judging other people.

+1,000,000

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It’s fine. They adjust.

No the don’t. Their circadian clock doesn’t adjust.

Mine (who slept til 11:30 today) adjusted fine, as did I as a teenager. Woke up in the dark every morning, even earlier than necessary, to have enough time to do my hair. Not ideal, but we’re all doing just fine.

No, they are tired and yes, it is not ideal. You contradicted yourself bc you know it needs to be later and you admit your kids slept till 11:30. Your time to fo your hair does not correlate to a study in the biology of teen sleep patterns.

I was only pointing out that though her body might want to sleep til 11:30, she does fine when forced to wake up much earlier. She doesn’t get home til nearly 5 pm most days. She’s cheerful and doing well in school. Her phone shuts off at 9 pm, so if yours are having trouble, maybe try that.

My kid isn’t using her phone after 9pm, is getting straight A’s in a magnet program, and has to be out the door by 6:35 to catch her bus. She’s cheerful most hours out of the day…but not from 6-8:00am. By Friday nights she’s a zombie. If we have special weekend plans that prevent her from getting caught up on her sleep, the next week is really tough. She’s physically and mentally healthy, doing well in school, and has a happy social life, but she’s tired. Is the early start time going to break her? No, she’ll survive it like we did. But is it fine? No, it’s not. A later start time would be better. It may not be feasible, but it would be better.

The entire state of CA changed HS start time to 8.30 am or later but MCPS says it is not feasible. Pathetic!

Bye! Enjoy California!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:MCPS looked into this several years back and ended up adjusting times by 20 minutes. (HS used to start at 7:25 am!)

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/belltimes/index.aspx

We spent tons of $ and time to move the school day 20 minutes a number of years ago. Not worth the effort to have them adjust the schedule 10 minutes more. Central office is really opposed to significantly changing the start time for high school. Supposedly it will hurt brown people. My kids were at a majority brown school and none of those parents seemed to care, but, central office apparently has the pulse of the people!

Some HS students need to leave school early enough to get to a job or to pick up their younger sibling from elementary school.

And all HS students need to get enough sleep - that t should trump the need of some HS students to end the day early.

Then do some parenting and get your kids to bed early. And no screens after homework is done.

You’re welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS looked into this several years back and ended up adjusting times by 20 minutes. (HS used to start at 7:25 am!)

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/belltimes/index.aspx

We spent tons of $ and time to move the school day 20 minutes a number of years ago. Not worth the effort to have them adjust the schedule 10 minutes more. Central office is really opposed to significantly changing the start time for high school. Supposedly it will hurt brown people. My kids were at a majority brown school and none of those parents seemed to care, but, central office apparently has the pulse of the people!

Some HS students need to leave school early enough to get to a job or to pick up their younger sibling from elementary school.

And all HS students need to get enough sleep - that t should trump the need of some HS students to end the day early.

Not if you have to be at work from 3-7 PM every schoolday to help your parents make ends meet. BTDT as an 12-17 year old. Anxiety over food, shelter, and clothing will keep you from getting that extra 90 minutes of sleep.

The kid has to work excuse is nonsense.

Only to spoiled rich people living in their spoiled rich bubble.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Not this again. We've already been over this again and again. The county has done it's best to resolve this. There is no better solution short of a massive tax hike to pay for more buses and drivers.

Yes there is. They could have ES start early and HS late.

As you may recall, this was considered and discussed, and the final decision was that this was not a better solution. Although your personal opinion may be different.

Considered and discussed does not mean it can’t be done.

It’s not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to hs in the 90s and our start time was 7:10. I wasn’t on a cell phone. It was brutal and looking back I strongly believe my hs years and my entire friggin trajectory in life would’ve been better if I didn’t have to wake up by 6am. I won’t do this to my kids.

Are you always this absurdly melodramatic, or only on DCUM?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Sucks for kids to wake up so early and it's unnatural. Shame on MCPS for not figuring out how to switch it. Many other school districts have done this and there are studies showing how the kids learning improved. Who is running this place? We go to an area private that starts at a healthy 9am.

Unnatural like in the olden days when people had to rise with the sun etc oh wait that is natural.

Sunrise this morning was at 7:27 am. If you rise at 7:27 am, you will not be on time for a school day that starts at 7:45 am, even if you live next door to the school.

I got in the car at 7:07 this morning to drive my kid to school and it was fully light out.

Are you saying the astronomy is wrong and sunrise was not at 7:27 am this morning in Montgomery County?

Do you not know what sunrise means? Hint: It’s a process, not a light switch.