Survey seeks input on school start times
As part of Fairfax County Public Schools’ effort to implement a later start for middle schools, community members are asked to indicate their preference for one of two proposed options.
The goal is to shift the start of middle schools to after 8 a.m. Research shows students who have more time to sleep do better academically. Later start times also lead to improved mental and emotional well-being. Middle schools currently start at 7:30 a.m.
To minimize transportation costs, elementary and high school start times would also have to shift.
The survey seeks input on these two alternatives by Sept. 30:
Option 1:
- Elementary schools – 7:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 8:10 a.m.-2:55 p.m.
- Middle schools – 9:35 a.m.-4:20 p.m.
- High schools/secondary schools – 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
Option 2:
- Elementary schools – 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. and 9:50 a.m.-4:35 p.m.
- Middle schools – 8 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
- High schools – 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
- Secondary schools – 8:40 a.m.-3:25 p.m.
In 2011, FCPS surveyed eighth, 10th, and 12th-graders and found that two-thirds of students reported sleeping seven hours or less on an average school night. That is at least two hours short of the recommended 8.5 to 9.5 hours needed per night.
Related story: School board approves Mason District pilot on middle school start times
Option 1 is completely nuts. I think nearly every family in Fairfax County would need childcare if elementary age kids are getting out of school at 2:30 in the afternoon with older siblings not getting home until 4 pm or later.
Not to mention little kids having to get the bus at what, 7 in the morning?
How doses the later start times effect after school practice and programs ?
Sleep times for kids are determined by when they go to bed, not what time school starts. The proponents of changing say that longer sleep times affect performance positively. Of course, they do. But making school start later does not mean that kids will do better in school. This is another attempt by the school board to try to deflect from the fact that test scores are going down, not up. Start times are not the answer. How about a scholastic solution?