Anonymous wrote:Not my middle schooler!

That's because you don't enforce an early bedtime. My middle schooler goes to sleep at 8:30pm. I get that this doesn't work for kids who are in late sports, but it should work for most, you just need to take away the screens and enforce it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a few years of elementary in MCPS that was somethihg like 9:30am - 4pm. That was rough for working parents. And our child has been able to walk to school for the duration.

I can't imagine how challenging this is for single parent households and/or households where it's challenging to pay for before/aftercare.

I don't understand this statement. We had a late start elementary (9:20-4:05) and it worked great for our dual working schedule. We did before school SACC and one of us could always be home by 4. I think 9-4 is a lot easier for working families than 7:45 - 2:30.

I do agree though, that going til 4:50 for elementary is insane. But as a parent with middle and high school kids, moving them to the late start is totally ridiculous. It effectively takes hours of active time out of their day. I'm a hard no on Option 1. I'd be totally fine leaving as is. The 30 minute later option works perfect for middle and high school, but I understand that the elementary school schedule is not ok.

The problem is everyone only cares about where their kids currently are. There is one option that elementary families will like (1) and one that MS/HS will like (2).

Yup, my kid gets on the bus at 9:00 and gets off at 4:30. DH and I work staggered schedules, so he leaves for work immediately after getting her on the bus and I get home before she gets off the bus. It is ideal for us, but any earlier or later would not work.

Not my middle schooler!

Anonymous wrote:Sure, but the very early start for middle school is not good for them.

And switching to a very late start for middle and high school isn't good for them either.

The middle schoolers are fine with the early start time.

It is only 2 years

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Options are not really plausible. No child of any age should go to a bus stop in the dark. Likewise no child should come home after 4 pm unless they choose to stay for an activity. With a budget close to 4 billion the taxpayers should not accept anything else. Wasting money on outside consultants and, of course millions on lawyers should instead be spent on solving this conundrum.

This. If they cannot afford to get everyone to school between the hours of 8-4:00 then there is a big problem. This county does not know how to problem solve. They just waste money.

I get that middle school times suck. But it is 2 years.

Option 1 had crappy times for both middle/high school for 6 years and Option 2 has crappy times for ES for 7+ years (some have preschools).

I think keeping things as status quo until the county had the funds to make it work is ideal.

They have the funds. They just spend them on the wrong things. Anyone who does not recognize this is the problem is not paying attention.

Anonymous wrote:Options are not really plausible. No child of any age should go to a bus stop in the dark. Likewise no child should come home after 4 pm unless they choose to stay for an activity. With a budget close to 4 billion the taxpayers should not accept anything else. Wasting money on outside consultants and, of course millions on lawyers should instead be spent on solving this conundrum.

This. If they cannot afford to get everyone to school between the hours of 8-4:00 then there is a big problem. This county does not know how to problem solve. They just waste money.

I get that middle school times suck. But it is 2 years.

Option 1 had crappy times for both middle/high school for 6 years and Option 2 has crappy times for ES for 7+ years (some have preschools).

I think keeping things as status quo until the county had the funds to make it work is ideal.

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Anonymous wrote:Option 2 is the obvious choice. Survey results have to be tilted like 90-10.

no freaking way do elementary parents want their kids starting at almost 10am. that is so late. little kids learn better early. they will be in school until almost 5

This has been pointed out multiple times to Gatehouse. And yet they keep coming back to ask about this option. They clearly are leaning towards this option. I guess they don’t care about families or teachers at those schools.

Well they should care. I currently teach at a late ES and by 3:45, all I can do is a read aloud cause my kids are done. No kid will be effectively learning till 4:35. When kids are not making adequate progress because they aren’t available for learning, maybe they will care.

So now you’ll just do your read aloud and maybe a snack at 4:00 pm. Chill.

Based off my kids schedule this year, this would be his schedule with a 30 minute pushback.

10:00-11:00 -Specials
11:00-11:20-Morning Meeting
11:20-12:40- Math
12:40-1:10- Intervention
1:10-1:40- Content
1:40-2:10- Recess
2:10-2:40-Lunch
2:40-4:35- Lang Arts

I don’t think any parent would want this schedule for their kids.

Lunch would never be at 2:10 you idiot.

yes it would. my elementary starts at 9:15 now. first lunch is 10:30am. last lunch starts at 1:30. if you push start times back kids will be starting lunch at 2pm or later.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a few years of elementary in MCPS that was somethihg like 9:30am - 4pm. That was rough for working parents. And our child has been able to walk to school for the duration.

I can't imagine how challenging this is for single parent households and/or households where it's challenging to pay for before/aftercare.

I don't understand this statement. We had a late start elementary (9:20-4:05) and it worked great for our dual working schedule. We did before school SACC and one of us could always be home by 4. I think 9-4 is a lot easier for working families than 7:45 - 2:30.

I do agree though, that going til 4:50 for elementary is insane. But as a parent with middle and high school kids, moving them to the late start is totally ridiculous. It effectively takes hours of active time out of their day. I'm a hard no on Option 1. I'd be totally fine leaving as is. The 30 minute later option works perfect for middle and high school, but I understand that the elementary school schedule is not ok.

The problem is everyone only cares about where their kids currently are. There is one option that elementary families will like (1) and one that MS/HS will like (2).

9-4 means I need childcare on both ends because I typically work 8-5. 7:45-2:30 means I only need to arrange care on one end because I can get the kids on the bus by 7:20.

Yup. Majority of late ES need morning/afternoon coverage. With earlier times, most will only need afternoon coverage.

VERY unexcited about being almost a mile away from the ES (in the walk zone) and having my kids walk in the dark in winter at 7:20. Can only imagine how many more 2 hour delays there will be in the winter! They’re not going to send first graders out to walk in snow and ice in the dark. Middle schoolers are a different story, ha.

FYI, my kids were walkers. No longer in elementary school. Started at 8. Never had to walk to school in the dark. Rarely had to walk in the snow. Heavy rain? I drove them. Did not happen often. Light rain? Umbrellas work well.

Honestly, it beats waiting around for the bus in middle school.

School start times have no impact on delays. If the roads are bad, school will be delayed. And, for most people, bus stops also require a walk.

Options are not really plausible. No child of any age should go to a bus stop in the dark. Likewise no child should come home after 4 pm unless they choose to stay for an activity. With a budget close to 4 billion the taxpayers should not accept anything else. Wasting money on outside consultants and, of course millions on lawyers should instead be spent on solving this conundrum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a few years of elementary in MCPS that was somethihg like 9:30am - 4pm. That was rough for working parents. And our child has been able to walk to school for the duration.

I can't imagine how challenging this is for single parent households and/or households where it's challenging to pay for before/aftercare.

I don't understand this statement. We had a late start elementary (9:20-4:05) and it worked great for our dual working schedule. We did before school SACC and one of us could always be home by 4. I think 9-4 is a lot easier for working families than 7:45 - 2:30.

I do agree though, that going til 4:50 for elementary is insane. But as a parent with middle and high school kids, moving them to the late start is totally ridiculous. It effectively takes hours of active time out of their day. I'm a hard no on Option 1. I'd be totally fine leaving as is. The 30 minute later option works perfect for middle and high school, but I understand that the elementary school schedule is not ok.

The problem is everyone only cares about where their kids currently are. There is one option that elementary families will like (1) and one that MS/HS will like (2).

9-4 means I need childcare on both ends because I typically work 8-5. 7:45-2:30 means I only need to arrange care on one end because I can get the kids on the bus by 7:20.

Yup. Majority of late ES need morning/afternoon coverage. With earlier times, most will only need afternoon coverage.

VERY unexcited about being almost a mile away from the ES (in the walk zone) and having my kids walk in the dark in winter at 7:20. Can only imagine how many more 2 hour delays there will be in the winter! They’re not going to send first graders out to walk in snow and ice in the dark. Middle schoolers are a different story, ha.

Anonymous wrote:Sure, but the very early start for middle school is not good for them.

And switching to a very late start for middle and high school isn't good for them either.

The options are ridiculous.

Sure, but the very early start for middle school is not good for them.

And switching to a very late start for middle and high school isn't good for them either.

Was just searching FCPS for their mission and found this on that page:
Accountability
FCPS is accountable for the academic achievement of all students. FCPS measures academic progress to ensure that all students, regardless of race, poverty, language, or disability, will graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary for college or employment. FCPS spends money wisely. FCPS directs funds to the classroom and finds ways to improve performance across the spectrum of academic programs and business processes.

I wonder if the powers that be are addressing what is best for our students?

again:
FCPS spends money wisely. FCPS directs funds to the classroom and finds ways to improve performance across the spectrum of academic programs and business processes


Now, I'm not sure how the funds affect start times, but certainly we need to do what is best for as many students as possible and remember why they are in school.

As a former elementary teacher, I assure you that the late start times are not the best solution for our young kids. And, think about this--they are in elementary school for seven years (six in some cases).

Take this into consideration: are you going to get well prepared middle and high school students if they do not have the best foundation possible in elementary school?
Kids with working parents will not be able to sleep in. Parents will be more stressed, which is also problematic.

Someone needs to step up and ask: what are we doing here? Are we focusing on educating our children? Is this best for their academic achievement? their mental health?

Honestly, I'd rather go back to early start for high school students. It seems to me that we have slipped since we went to later times for them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All Loudoun County elementary schools start between 7:30-8am. They’re making it work.

Half as many schools and no bussing of AAP.

What is your point? FCPS has Option 1 which is pretty much what Loudoun does everyday. AAP has nothing to do with this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All Loudoun County elementary schools start between 7:30-8am. They’re making it work.

Half as many schools and no bussing of AAP.

I live in Loudoun and teach in FCPS. The other thing I noticed is busses don’t go into neighborhoods. Most of the pickups are on a major street. Also many kids can walk because boundaries are smaller. My son will only be bussed for ES and will walk to middle/high. Loudoun doesn’t expand high schools. They just build new ones. So high schools are smaller too.