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Proposed Options for

New Start Times

House Bill 733

Community Meetings

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What is House Bill 733?

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  • The law requires Florida schools to adopt the following middle and high school start times. By no later than July 1, 2026, the instructional day for all public and charter schools must be:
    • Middle schools must begin no earlier that 8:00 A.M.
    • High schools must begin no earlier that 8:30 A.M.
  • Stakeholders must be informed of the impacts of sleep deprivation on safety, health, and academics for middle and high school students.
  • Stakeholders must be informed of the benefits of a later school start time.
  • School Districts must discuss local strategies to implement the later school start times successfully.

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Impacts of Sleep Deprivation

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SCHOOL LOGO OR DELETE

  • The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the National Sleep Foundation, and the American Medical Association all have policy statements in support of delaying school start times for adolescents.
    • Adolescents need on average 8-10 hours of sleep per night
    • Sleep deprivation can harm students’ health, academic performance, and safety
    • Sleep deprivation can lead to:
      • Mood disorders
      • Tendency towards high risk behaviours
      • Lower academic performance
      • High prevalence of self-reported accidents among teen drivers

Image by krakenimages.com on Freepik

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Benefits of a later start to school

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ADD SCHOOL LOGO OR DELETE

Text

  • Bullet 1
  • Bullet 2

Image by Freepik

  • An increase in the amount of sleep
  • Self-reported improvements in health and well-being
  • Decreased absenteeism and tardiness rates
  • Positive relationship with academic outcomes
  • Suggested correlation between later school start times and a decrease in car crashes involving teenage drivers

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District Requirements

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  • School times must be at minimum:
    • 6:05 hours for Elementary
    • 6:35 hours for Middle School
    • 7 - 7:30 hours for High School
  • Bus drivers work an 8 hour work day
  • On average, 15 minutes is needed for pre and post-trip inspections
  • Morning drop-off time factors in breakfast and time for metal detectors (high school)
  • On average, each route needs:
    • 45 minutes for Elementary stops
    • 70 minutes for Middle School stops
    • 65 minutes for High School stops

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Community Impact

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  • Later end times for secondary students potentially creates conflicts with student commitments outside of school:
    • Local businesses are impacted by students who will have to work a reduced number of hours.
    • Less time available for students to participate in On-The-Job (OJT) training or required clinical hours.
  • Our School District covers over 1,970 square miles and buses cover 508 routes
    • Additional traffic congestion during peak hours (AM and PM)
  • Parent work schedules
    • Childcare challenges
    • Conflict with work hours

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Additional Transportation Impacts

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  • Choice Transportation
    • Approximately 11,568 riders and 4,272 bus stops
    • Will require an audit and reduction in the number of stops
    • Consolidation of stops (school “hub” areas)
  • Courtesy Riders
    • Approximately 4,400 riders
    • Will require an audit and reduction in the number of stops

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  • Pre-dawn bus pickup for ES students (6:25 AM)
  • Potential overtime for bus drivers
  • Late start and end for MS
  • MS ends in afternoon rush hour

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Notes:

Elementary

7:10 AM Drop-off

Proposed School Times:

7:30 AM - 1:35 PM

High

8:15 AM Drop-off

Proposed School Times:

8:45 AM - 3:45 PM

Middle

9:55 AM Drop-off

Proposed School Times:

10:15 AM - 4:50 PM

Option 1

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  • Morning care needed for ES
  • After school care for MS
  • After school activities for HS
  • HS students driving during rush hour

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Notes:

Middle

7:45 AM Drop-off

Proposed School Times:

8:00 AM - 2:35 PM

High

8:45 AM Drop-off

Proposed School Times:

9:15 AM - 4:35 PM

Elementary

9:30 AM Drop-off

Proposed School Times:

9:45 AM - 3:50 PM

Option 2

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(Layer 2)

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  • Same order as current routes
  • Morning care needed for ES and MS
  • Late start and end for MS
  • MS ends in afternoon rush hour

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Notes:

High

8:00 AM Drop-off

Proposed School Times:

8:30 AM - 3:50 PM

Elementary

8:45 AM Drop-off

Proposed School Times:

9:00 AM - 3:05 PM

Middle

10:00 AM Drop-off

Proposed School Times:

10:20 AM - 4:55 PM

Option 3

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Next Steps

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  • Survey Link: http://l.sdpbc.net/dnwqy: October 2024
  • The School Board Legislative Priorities Workshop: November 6, 2024
  • Evaluate and incorporate community input: January - March 2025
  • Joint Legislative Conference: January 29, 2025
  • 2025 Legislative Session: March 4 - May 2, 2025
  • Board Approval (if law not changed): May 2025
  • Prepare, develop, and implement communications plan: June 2025 - August 2026
  • Implementation of new start times: August 2026
  • palmbeachschools.org/newstarttimes
  • For comments and suggestions, email newstarttimes@palmbeachschools.org

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How to Find your Public Officials

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  • Visit Findmyschool.info
    • Enter home address
    • Public Officials are located at the bottom right

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Social Media

Stay informed by checking the District’s website, palmbeachschools.org or by watching content on

The Education Network

/@pbcsd

/@sdpbc