Anonymous wrote:Not sure I understand the issue -- why can't they just go to bed earlier or take a nap after they get home from school?

I went to MCPS many years ago, and high school started at 7:20 am and we managed fine.

This, I'd barely roll out of bed and usually one of my parents drove me as they didn't want me walking alone in the dark/cold but we made it work.

Anonymous wrote:You know, there are a number of issues here for kids with special needs, including the fact that kids are getting home at close to 5:00 when they ride buses to schools that are not their home schools, and kids have an exhaustingly long day. Some kids wake up very early, and staying in school until that late, and then on the bus, is far from ideal.

Personally, I welcome a return to the earlier bell times.

Agree, its very difficult for my elementary school aged child. I love the later start time for me, but for her, its very difficult between therapies and after school activities we don't get home till very late. No matter what time we try to get her to bed early, she still goes to sleep later and wakes up earlier than we'd prefer. Now, many after school activities are later, which runs into dinner time and homework time and it makes getting to/from harder with traffic.

They need to find a balance.

Anonymous wrote:It was not a small number of vocal high school parents in support of later start times. It was 80% of parents surveyed. Because the early start times were having a negative effects on their kids. Wait till your kids are older.

yes, it was in fact mostly high school parents who wanted the change. the county made it seem like many others wanted the change, when in fact most voted against it.

It was not a small number of vocal high school parents in support of later start times. It was 80% of parents surveyed. Because the early start times were having a negative effects on their kids. Wait till your kids are older.

I went to school in England where our education and sleep wasnt determined by a bus system. We all started around 9. I went to Germany as a teen on an exchange program and they started at 7 and were done by 2pm. After school activities were earlier and they all went to bed earlier, it was a different way of life.
Even the kids with adhd and asd managed to go to bed early to get up early. It can be done.

I would encourage those parents who are in support of going back to the old bell times, particularly those in tier 2 elem schools to email the boe and super as well. This change was made due to a small number of vocal high school parents. Now it's time to advocate for our youngest kids!

Not sure I understand the issue -- why can't they just go to bed earlier or take a nap after they get home from school?

I went to MCPS many years ago, and high school started at 7:20 am and we managed fine.

Thanks OP I have emailed the board. My high school student already meets the bus at 6:55. There is no need to revise it back to the earlier schedule. I happily pay for before care for my elementary school child, that wouldn't change with an early time. Families who cannot afford before care have programs that will offset the amount due.

The 925 start is REALLY hard for working parents.

If elementary could move to an 8-3 model that would be IDEAL, but that will never happen. I'm all for bringing back the earlier bell times.

signed a tier 2 parent

I understand and am sympathetic to the issues, but the late start times are an overwhelming hassle in that they cost money to deal with and threaten the job stability of working parents. If you work in DC and have a 40 minutes commute, yet you have to get your kids to school at 9:25, you can't get to work until 10 or 10:30 in some cases. That's insanity, and you have to pay to solve the problem (before care). We can afford that but many parents can't. I think that trumps the concern of 20 minutes more sleep; 90 minutes? Ok - sure. But 20? Not winning me over on this one.

So what time are you recommending elementary start?

You know, there are a number of issues here for kids with special needs, including the fact that kids are getting home at close to 5:00 when they ride buses to schools that are not their home schools, and kids have an exhaustingly long day. Some kids wake up very early, and staying in school until that late, and then on the bus, is far from ideal.

Personally, I welcome a return to the earlier bell times.

p.s. MCPS superintendent Smith also gets the email, as do all board members, to boe@mcpsmd.org

A lot of kids with special needs, especially ASD and ADHD, have an especially hard time getting up early for school due to sleep difficulties. The board of ed is discussing bell times again because some of the elementary school schedules have been pushed late as a result of the 20 minute delay in all school start times implemented a couple years ago and they have a vocal lobby. The BOE needs to hear voices from the other side too. This 20 minute delayed start, small change as it was, makes a big positive difference for a lot of middle school and high school age kids including my own DC, who has a terrible time falling asleep and is adjusting to HS demands. Every extra minute of sleep helps. If your kids aren't middle school or high school age yet, trust me, it gets harder for kids to fall asleep before 11 pm and harder for kids to get up and function early in the morning. School demands also get much harder.

Ideally they would move the morning start closer to 8:30 am when the Academy of Pediatrics and various sleep organizations say teens should be starting school due to overwhelming research on academic functioning and physical and mental health and safety (car accidents/drowsy driving).

If this issue affects you, you might consider writing a quick email to the board of ed at boe@mcpsmd.org . If you've been pleased with the 20 min delay in start times let them know! The issue is being discussed now so getting in contact ASAP could help stop the board from reverting to the old schedule (HS starting at 7:25 am!).