MCPS HS Start-times need to be changed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such a nasty conversation but there were many many hours spent on this several years ago and the end result was that times moved by 15 minutes or something. The primary problems were:
- bus routes were challenging and no good way to get the MS and ES kids to school at reasonable times with a later HS bus route
— babysitting issues with HS kids needed to watch/pick up siblings after school (which also relates to the first—that’s why they can’t make the ES start at 7:30 instead of the HS)
— sports issues because if you start school later kids will be playing practicing until well last dark. Can’t do morning practices because can’t afford extra activities buses.

IME, all of it could be worked out if we had universal child care, and none of it will be worked out because we don’t have universal child care.
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A
It works in many states and school districts.

Yeah I think it's becoming more and more common. Was talking with my SIL over the holiday and their district reversed start times a few years ago. Its a smaller district but they grappled with similar challenges such as shared buses and sports. And its been....fine. They're in a state that is not exactly known for strong education overall but it was treated a a common sense change supported by research and child development.

If afternoon childcare is truly the issue that's preventing this change in MCPS (cause clearly they don't care about childcare issues in the morning) then there's no reason why they can't throw some money at that to provide aftercare subsidies for families who need it.

Wouldn’t lack of funding be the reason they can’t throw money at it?

[Anonymous]

I wish they would try this in MCPS!