American Academy of Pediatrics - Policy Statement

The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes insufficient sleep in adolescents as an important public health issue that significantly affects the health and safety, as well as the academic success, of our nation’s middle and high school students. Although a number of factors, including biological changes in sleep associated with puberty, lifestyle choices, and academic demands, negatively affect middle and high school students’ ability to obtain sufficient sleep, the evidence strongly implicates earlier school start times (ie, before 8:30 am) as a key modifiable contributor to insufficient sleep, as well as circadian rhythm disruption, in this population. Furthermore, a substantial body of research has now demonstrated that delaying school start times is an effective countermeasure to chronic sleep loss and has a wide range of potential benefits to students with regard to physical and mental health, safety, and academic achievement.

American Academy of Pediatrics - Recommendation

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly supports the efforts of school districts to optimize sleep in students and urges high schools and middle schools to aim for start times that allow students the opportunity to achieve optimal levels of sleep (8.5–9.5 hours) and to improve physical (eg, reduced obesity risk) and mental (eg, lower rates of depression) health, safety (eg, drowsy driving crashes), academic performance, and quality of life.

American Medical Association

“Sleep deprivation is a growing public health issue affecting our nation’s adolescents, putting them at risk for mental, physical and emotional distress and disorders. Scientific evidence strongly suggests that allowing adolescents more time for sleep at the appropriate hours results in improvements in health, academic performance, behavior, and general well-being.”

Centers for Disease Control

“Students need adequate sleep for their health, safety, and academic success.”

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Adolescent Sleep: �Biological and Circadian Factors

• All adolescents experience a normal shift in circadian rhythms with age and in association with the onset of puberty “night owls”
• This results in a biologically-based shift (delay) of up to several hours in both the natural fall sleep and morning wake times
• Changes in the sleep drive also make it easier for adolescents to stay up later

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From Dr. Judith Owens

Adolescent Sleep: �Biological and Circadian Factors

• On a practical level, due to these factors as well as the “forbidden zone”, it’s very difficult for the average adolescent to fall asleep much before 11pm on a regular basis*
• Teens cannot “make” themselves fall asleep earlier

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*In order for high school students to obtain the recommended amount of sleep (~9 hours) at a 7:30a school start time, they would need to fall asleep by 9:30p

The Bottom Line

• These changes in sleep are in direct conflict with earlier high school start times (before 8:30am)

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• As a result, students are required to wake for the day and function during the “circadian nadir” (the lowest level of alertness during the 24 hour day)
• Early wake times also selectively rob teens of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is critical for learning (of new information in particular) and memory
• And they are unable to meet sleep needs

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• For optimal health, safety and achievement the average middle and high school student needs 8-10 hours of sleep*

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*AASM recommendations, 2016

Adolescent Sleep: �Biological and Circadian Factors

• All adolescents experience a normal shift in circadian rhythms with age, resulting in a biologically-based delay of up to several hours in both the natural fall sleep and morning wake times.^1,2,3
• Changes in sleep drive, along with environmental factors (after school activities, screen time, stimulant drinks), make it easier for adolescents to stay up later.²
• It’s very difficult for the average adolescent to fall asleep much before 11 pm on a regular basis.²
• Adolescents are required to wake up and function during the “circadian nadir” (lowest level of alertness during the 24 hour day), preventing REM sleep.²
• For optimal health, safety, and achievement the average middle and high school student needs 8-10 hours of sleep.⁴

¹Carskadon 2012 and Carskadon 2019

²From Dr. Judith Owens presentation to NPS start time committee 12/13/2022

³Caskardon, 2006

⁴AASM recommendations, 2016

Middle and High School Start Time Recommendations of 8:30 am or later

• American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement
• CDC reiterates AAP policy
• MIAA supports AAP policy
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Statement
• American Medical Association

Benefits of Later School Start Times

• Seattle study - increased daily sleep, along with higher second-semester science grades
• JAMA article - increased sleep duration with significant improvements in measures of adolescent alertness, mood, and health.
• Multi-school review paper - students reporting getting at least 8 hours of sleep were more likely to say they have good overall health and were less likely to report being depressed or using caffeine and other substances; significant reduction in local car crashes, less absenteeism, less tardiness, and higher test scores on national achievement tests.
• Wake County, NC - middle school academic improvements in math and reading, stronger effect with lower-performing students
• Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics - lack of sleep linked to increased sports injuries

Studies with “Mixed” Results

• Few / no studies with “negative” results
• North Carolina analysis - reduced suspensions, higher course grades; mixed associations between start times and test scores
• Minneapolis Public Schools Start Time Executive Summary 2001 - Attendance improved for grades 9, 10, and 11; sleep time increased; grades showed slight improvement but not statistically significant

Research

Option 1: Do nothing

• Sleep research not addressed for either MS or HS.

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Option 2: Elementary-only

• MS partially addressed, if MS starts at 8:15 am, otherwise, not addressed.
• HS not addressed

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Option 3: Westwood

• MS fully addressed
• HS partially addressed

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Option 4: Least Transportation Cost

• HS fully addressed
• MS not addressed at all

Initial Thoughts/Data Summary - Families

• It seems like there is a pretty strong feeling that high school should start later and that there are concerns about teen sleep.
• It also seems like this concern starts with middle school students as well. Parents seem concerned that middle school even starts too early for kids as young as 5th and 6th grade
• It seems like there is less support for an elementary early release, with the exception of it maybe happening on Fridays.

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Elementary School - Do they utilize district provided bus/van transportation in the morning?

Middle School - Do they utilize district provided bus/van transportation in the morning?

High School - Do they utilize district provided bus/van transportation in the morning?

Blue = Yes = 4%

How challenging do you predict it would be to access additional childcare for a weekly early release day while requiring less child care at the end of other school days? (1-not challenging, 5 - very challenging)

Initial Thoughts/Data Summary - Staff

• High school faculty seems much more opposed to a later start time than parents - perhaps assuming a change in school start time would reflect a schedule similar to Newton North's (ending at 3:45 p.m.)
• A question about what what is the latest possible end time that could be accepted may have been helpful.
• High school faculty are also concerned about the bell schedule. I have heard this outside of the survey as well. I wonder if there's any data about whether rowdy student behavior at the end of the day/after lunch is impacted by later school start times.
• Elementary faculty don't seem sold on the half day either, but they may also just be unaware of what that time would be used for.

Middle School

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High School

Initial Thoughts/Data Summary - Students

• A lot of students are getting up earlier than I expected.
• More students support a later start time than I expected. I thought it would be a little more mixed than it was.
• More students do NOT participate in afterschool activities than I thought.

9th and 10th Graders

11th and 12th Graders

9th and 10th Graders

11th and 12th Graders

Conclusions from Surveys

Families

Staff

• The most significant before and after school commitments for staff is child care, with the exception of staff who do not have any after school commitments
• Middle School staff largely report that students are more likely to be engaged in class later in the day
• High School staff are mixed on whether high school should start later

Students

• The majority of students in 11th and 12th grade report that they get less than 7 hours of sleep on weeknights
• Most 9th and 10th graders get 6-8
• On weekends, most students in 11th and 12th grade report that they get between 8 and 12 hours of sleep
• Same for 9th and 10th graders
• 70% of students in 11th and 12th grade report that they have a job
• 44% of 9th and 10th graders have jobs
• The majority of responses for students who are tardy report that the reason is due to oversleeping
• The majority of students in 11th and 12th grade say that school should start later
• 80% of 9th and 10th graders report that they are not solely responsible for any siblings after school

• Values:
• Most “strongly agree” is for A Start Time that Reflects the Most Recent Research on Teen Sleep
• Agree and strongly agree with values surrounding family time and access to child care
• Families show concern about accessing child care
• Families like the current start time for elementary schools
• Families of all levels report that they think high school should start later
• Strongest support for an elementary half day on Monday and Friday
• 64.6% of high school families report that they are concerned or very concerned about their child’s sleep
• 60.9% of high school families report that their child does not have a job that would be impacted by a later start time

Pros for Each Scenario

OPTION 1: NO CHANGES

• Maintains current schedules for athletics for students
• Maintains current schedules for after school activities
• Maintains current schedules for child care for families and staff
• School staff who currently coach would be able to maintain their current coaching positions and schedules, which staff reports is important for them

OPTION 2: ELEMENTARY ONLY

• Supports elementary staff so they can participate in PLCs and curriculum meetings during contractual hours
• Supports elementary staff to collaborate more during district-wide meetings
• Maintains current schedules for athletics for high school and middle school students

OPTION 3: WESTWOOD MODEL

OPTION 4: ALL CHANGES, LOWEST TRANSPORTATION COSTS

• High school starts later, which students and families supported in significant numbers–students and parents report that high schoolers (especially 11th and 12th graders) get too little sleep on weeknights
• Middle School would also start later, which addresses parent concerns about middle school sleep
• Families reported that the value they would like to prioritize in social emotional learning is a start time that reflects most current research on sleep and a more balanced homework load
• Elementary parents would have fewer child care concerns in the morning
• Elementary staff would have PLCs and curriculum meetings during contractual time

• High school starts later, which students and families supported in significant numbers–students and parents report that high schoolers (especially 11th and 12th graders) get too little sleep on weeknights
• Families reported that the value they would like to prioritize in social emotional learning is a start time that reflects most current research on sleep and a more balanced homework load
• Elementary parents would have fewer child care concerns in the morning
• Elementary staff would have PLCs and curriculum meetings during contractual time

Cons for Each Scenario

OPTION 1: NO CHANGES

• Parents and students reported significant support for high school schedules that reflect the most recent research on sleep. Making no changes to the high school start time would not reflect those interests
• Staff at the elementary schools wouldn’t be able to have PLCs and curriculum meetings during contractual time

OPTION 2: ELEMENTARY ONLY

• Parents and students reported significant support for high school schedules that reflect the most recent research on sleep. Making no changes to the high school start time would not reflect those interests
• Most elementary families report that they support current elementary school start times, so they may not support changing them.
• Elementary families report significant concerns about child care, and this option would require significant changes to afternoon childcare for elementary families during the half day.

OPTION 3: WESTWOOD MODEL

OPTION 4: ALL CHANGES, LOWEST TRANSPORTATION COSTS

• Middle School would start quite late and staff surveys reflect concerns about late end times
• Most elementary families report that they support current elementary school start times, so they may not support changing them.
• Elementary families report significant concerns about child care, and this option would require significant changes to afternoon childcare for elementary families during every school day and on the weekly half day.

• High School would start quite late and staff surveys reflect concerns about late end times
• High School staff who coach would have a hard time maintaining their coaching schedule
• Elementary families report significant concerns about child care, and this option would require significant changes to afternoon childcare for elementary families during every school day and on the weekly half day.

TRANSPORTATION

JFK Vans:

An adult or older sibling needs to be present to get their disabled students on and off the vans. Many families rely on an older sibling or HS babysitter in the PM, so the adult can remain at work.

JFK will have to add 2 more vans to accommodate the incoming Pre-K students at NHS, East, Lilja and Memorial, as well as from having all elementary schools released at the same time. ($44,233.20 per van/per SY)

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Connolly:

Families of K students require adult or older sibling, babysitter to meet them at their bus stop. With time changes, they may not have this availability. Also will affect students who watch their younger siblings because they will still be in school and not home.

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METCO:

Buses will pick up students later. They will be traveling during rush hour times in the city in the morning and afternoon. They would keep the same pick up time in the AM to avoid rush hour traffic. With this, they would need food services and a place to wait inside the school until school is fully staffed.

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After school sports:

With students getting out much later it will affect JFK and Metco students and the time that they will arrive home. Will also affect driver availability for buses for sports trips

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Medical Concerns:

Some students (mainly JFK students) have to take prescriptions at specific times every day. Occasionally a student’s personal nurse has had to ride with a student. There could be adverse side effects when making a change to the time they take it.

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TRANSPORTATION

Driver and Bus/Van Shortages:

With the time change, we could lose drivers who are not comfortable driving when it's dark out. We are currently in a driver and school bus shortage. Some drivers may elect to drive in a town where they would get home sooner?

I have reached out to Connolly Bus and they do not feel it would affect driver retention. However, no full survey has been presented to the drivers at this time.

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After School Services: Need more after school programs for students. Possibly an afterschool center for students with HS students assisting for work study program. SPED students would rely on JFK transportation to get them to/from.

Additional pricing for after school transportation TBD depending on enrollment.

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If students are in an afterschool program, how would it affect transportation?

CON: Transportation costs would increase for students who rely on JFK transportation depending on which students would take part in these programs. $44,233.20 per van/per SY

If students need to be transported to a location that offers after school, they would need busing to these centers, which would require additional buses depending on enrollment. $73,260.00 per bus/per SY

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Creating a new work study program for childcare needs:

NHS work study students would be able to leave early to assist with childcare needs in the community. Students could leave NHS 1⁄2 hour before Elementary and Middle school dismissals. This will increase transportation budget for NPS.

Two (2) vans at $44,233.20/year each ($88,466.40) to drop designated schools. 1 van for Wilson, Ben-Hem, Kennedy & Brown. 1 van for Memorial, Lilja and Johnson.

TRANSPORTATION

Interdistrict busing:

Students can use this service for getting to/from work, getting to/from Natick train stations. If this is done, can the students use this for getting from NHS to middle/elementary schools to assist in after school care?

Metco students grades 7-12 are given M7 MBTA pass from City of Boston and can ride commuter rail for free. This could assist students not not able to wait for a bus or van so they may get home sooner.

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Food Services:

Breakfast would need to be available for Metco students who would need to arrive to school before schools open.

Bagged snacks for Metco students who may double their transportation time in the afternoon.

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A survey of School Districts that made the time change migrated from a three tier busing system to a two tier busing system.

The ADDITIONAL Transportation cost of doing this in NPS would be as follows:

Connolly bus: $407/day x 180 days= $73,260 x 27 additional buses= $1,978,020.00/per SY

JFK van: $245.74/day x 180 days= $44,233.20 x 2 additional buses= $88,466.40/per SY

Total additional cost: $2,066,486.40 This cost would not reflect the current fuel overage of approximately $80,000/per SY or costs for any additional van monitors that may be needed.

Doing the above scenario Connolly and JFK would need to hire 29 additional drivers. With the additional drivers, we would expect a price increase in their contract. This option would not be feasible for NPS due to driver shortages, as well as financial aspects.

Estimated price increase $2,300,000.00

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Please see attached link for Transportation Scenarios Times and Costs

TRANSPORTATION and RENTALS

• Later school end times for after school bus drivers mean that they are not available for driving athletic runs, therefore, available drivers from other towns will be able to pick up those hours instead of our Natick drivers.
• It is proposed that possibly using additional buses from other towns for busing could be done to address the need for more bus runs simultaneously than are currently used/ available, and we would then need to address the middle school sports needs for transportation

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If there are no longer any available rental times on weekends, the impact is approximately $30,000 cost

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Transportation & Rentals Pros & Cons

Option 1: No changes

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PROS: Families would be able to keep the current schedule they are accustomed to.

Athletics, METCO, ASAP and building usage/rentals would all continue to work as normal.

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CONS: HS students would not get the recommended amount of sleep per night.

Per Dr. Owens HS with more sleep have the following outcomes:

• Increased attendance rates
• Decline in absenteeism rates
• Decline in tardiness rates
• Decreased drop-out rates
• Increased graduation rates
• 1^st period grades improved
• Increase in GPA
• Higher standardized test scores

Option 2: Elementary only changes

PROS: All students in elementary would be released from schools at the same time. This would help families that rely on friends or family members with children in other NPS elementary schools to schedule pick up times or bus schedules better.

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No change to building usage/rentals

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CONS:

None in my opinion.

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Option 3: Westwood Model

Pros: Times would work for most buses with exception of half days being late by 10-15 mins.

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CONS: Early release: Many Elementary buses will run late for HS p/u. Would like to push back HS early release until 12:00 (15 extra minutes) to remove that scenario from the equation.

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COST: JFK will need to get 2 additional vans due to all Elementary Schools w/ same dismissal time $88,466.40 per SY

Would need to pay all van bus drivers 6 hours per day instead of 4 hours per day to cover 7:15AM-9:15 and 2:00PM-5PM Price TBD by new contract

Estimated additional transportation costs for NPS: $88,466.40 PLUS 2 extra hours per day per driver. (40-42 drivers) Price TBD by new contract

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*This is not a reasonable option due to costs in my opinion

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Option 4: All changes

Pros: It is cost effective to the schools, will have the elementary students waiting later in the am for a bus allowing them to be waiting while it is not dark out.

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Cons: Buses would run late from EL to HS by 10+ minutes.

May need 2 more late buses to accommodate needs and times of school release.

Late buses would take 2 hours on non half days

Buses would not be able to pick up Athletics until 3:45

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COST: JFK will need to get 2 additional vans due to all Elementary Schools w/ same dismissial time $88,466.40 per SY

Estimated additional transportation costs for NPS: $88,466.40

Could lose up to $30K in rental costs if Athletics needs the gym during the weekend, if is it too late/dark to have Athletics after 3:45PM.

Informed by discussions w Newton, Dover Sherborn, Wayland, Weston, who all have later start times.

Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunities(METCO) Program

Option 1- No change

Pro*Families/Students will continue with schedules they are accustomed to�

Option 2-Elementary Change Only

Pros*MS/HS students schedule not affected

*Prospective Elem students will have separate transportation

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Option 3- Westwood Model

Pros*Potential for slightly later AM pick up time for MS and HS students by 10- 15 mins

*AM route- time will accommodate time for breakfast in the morning @MS and HS

*PM route-time close enough to allow for bus to pick HS and MS within 15 min window

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Con* Early dismissal HS has 45 mins wait for MS dismissal (supervision/programming required)

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Option 4-All Change

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Pros*Opportunity to explore MS/Elem bus b/c of smaller windows of time for AM route/PM route/Early Dismissal�*HS could have separate transportation

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Cons*AM route HS arrive to school 1 hour early

*PM route -MS have 75 mins wait for high school dismissal (supervision/programming required)

*Early Dismissal- MS have 50 mins wait for high school dismissal (supervision/programming required)

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Athletics - Summary of Findings

Nicholas DiAntonio (NHS Teacher/Coach); Tim Collins (NHS Athletic Director)

Conclusions and Findings:

- Common argument: “All of the Bay State Conference is Changing” → Reality is only two teams have an ending time past 2:50pm (Newton North, 3:45pm; Brookline, 2:55pm)

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- Bay State Conference Challenges: 80% of Bay State Conference Teams are released at or before 2:35pm; a later end time will negatively impact travel, and, most profoundly, the competitions of our sub-varsity athletics teams.

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- Student-Athlete Challenges: Difficulty attending extra help after school, arriving home later each day, anecdotal reports from Newton North of student-athletes reporting increased stress as a result of late release.

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- Faculty (Who Coach) Challenges: Getting home far later, loss of family time, balancing arranging extra help for academic students with practice/competition times; Expected loss of faculty coaches with a time change.

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- Youth Sports Challenges: Schedules are already dictated by high school schedules on Memorial Field and at NHS Gymnasium; later ending time for high school means far later ending times for our younger athletes.

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- Middle School Athletics Challenges: Many NHS faculty members coach Middle School Sports with KMS & WMS; with a later end time at the high school, this would not be a possibility for our high school faculty members.

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- Anecdotal Evidence from Newton North High School: Practicing in dark routinely since start of October, HUGE negative impact to METCO student-athletes, kids struggling to re-engage at the end of a long day, decreased participation numbers due to length of academic and athletic day, losing faculty coaches as a result.

Conclusion: Zero Positives for Athletics for Option 3 (Westwood) and for Option 4 (All changes, least transportation $).

Fall/Spring season – example of daily practice/game schedule in Natick

Winter season – example of daily practice schedule

Natick Specific Concerns

1. Bus driver shortage - with NHS end time of 2:17pm, the earliest we get an athletic bus is 3pm (because the school bus route drivers double as our sports bus drivers). Robin A confirms that this is going to push our first bus for athletics back into the 3:30-3:45pm time frame. Travel time at that time of day is difficult. MS sports the issue is even worse.
2. Practice time starting at 3:45pm instead of 3pm. Moving end time of practices in Fall to 7pm (earliest), Winter to 10pm, and Spring to 8pm.
3. No youth sports time at NHS campus (except weekends that NHS isn’t using).

Add coaches who coach at MS??

Which sports and how many coaches?

Natick Athletics Department

15 West Street

Natick, MA 01760

Has your athletic team moved to a delayed start?

* Needham’s 8:00 am start has been in use since 2004; approximately four years ago, they moved to an 8:35am start ONLY on Friday’s with the SAME end time.

Natick Athletics Department

15 West Street

Natick, MA 01760

Survey was sent to all athletic directors in the Bay State Conference, Tri-Valley Conference, and Hockomock Conference.

n = 21 Responses

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Hockomock Conference = GREEN = 8 Responses

Bay State Conference = RED = 6 Responses

Tri-Valley Conference = YELLOW = 7 Responses

Survey of Bay State, Hockomock, and Tri-Valley Athletic Directors

Add specific current start times of the schools listed in this deck

Natick Athletics Department

15 West Street

Natick, MA 01760

33.3% → 7:00 am - 7:29 am

42.9% → 7:30 am - 8:00 am

23.8% → 8:01 am - 8:30 am

0% → Later than 8:31 am

Average School Day Start Time

Natick Athletics Department

15 West Street

Natick, MA 01760

47.6% → 1:45 pm - 2:15 pm

42.9% → 2:16 pm - 2:46 pm

9.5% → Later than 2:47 pm

0% → Later than 3:00 pm (Newton North was not included in this study)

Average School Day End Time

Natick Athletics Department

15 West Street

Natick, MA 01760

21 Total Athletic Directors Responded to the Survey

5 of 21 Respondents indicated a time change has occurred in the past 5 years.

Canton High School

Norwood High School

Westwood High School

Holliston High School

Sharon High School

60% (3) of athletic directors in schools where a time change has occurred in the last 5 years noted SUBSTANTIAL travel concerns and challenges with buses, arrival times, and competitions.

“Major transportation issues as well as many more early dismissals for sports such as golf, hockey, swim & dive, track, etc. Games are starting much later than they did and teams are getting back to school late on a consistent basis.”

“Buses!”

Of the schools who HAVE had a time change in last 5 Years…

Natick Athletics Department

15 West Street

Natick, MA 01760

What Does the Whole Group Have to Say??

Respondents left this component of the response blank.

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As such, a conclusive determination of their standpoint cannot be ascertained.

47.6% of responding Athletic Directors noted concerns about bussing and transportation!

Natick Athletics Department

15 West Street

Natick, MA 01760

What Did the Athletic Directors Have to Say?

“Later school start times and dismissal times do not work with Athletics. Newton made a change to later start and dismissal times and it has been a major scheduling problem for all of their opponents. Schools without lighted fields cannot fit games in before dark in the late fall and early spring. Schools also have gym and field problems with rentals and youth sports in the evening that conflict because of schools with late dismissals inability to arrive at a reasonable time. It is unfair to all of their opponents, officials, coaches and administrators who now have to completely change and adjust their schedules while waiting for the schools with late dismissals to arrive. There is also a financial impact that schools with late dismissal must take into consideration for their opponents. Buses and officials never were a problem in the past, now both are a major problem. Schools with late dismissal times make busing and finding officials ever more difficult.”

• Bay State Conference Athletic Director

Natick Athletics Department

15 West Street

Natick, MA 01760

What Did the Athletic Director’s Have to Say?

“Later end times means later games which means students are out later taking away from their academic responsibilities.”

• Bay State Conference Athletic Director

“Bussing became a HUGE hurdle (along with Athletics as a distant second issue) to changing start times.”

• HOCKOMOCK Conference Athletic Director

“The later dismissal times get the harder it is to schedule events such as golf and other sub-varsity games where there are no lights. It also eats into time that our youth programs have to utilize fields as we are using them later due to dismissal time and transportation issues.”

• TRI-VALLEY Conference Athletic Director

Natick Athletics Department

15 West Street

Natick, MA 01760

“Although we did not change, not happy with the later schools.”

In your experience, how do families, students, and school professionals feel about the time shift?

“Most people I have spoken would have preferred the school start/end times did not change from our previous structure.”

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Add info about ref shortages

Add info about weekend rentals

Add info about students having difficulty getting to e.g. night time concerts coming from practices

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Add info about field lights and what would be needed in combination with buses to make it happen

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Lights, quotes for wilson, cole center, practice field behind the turf is dangerous, if that back practice field was synthetic and lit like the main field, we’d be able to do it

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Sargeant but any rain, the fields are shut down

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More than 1,000 children are enrolled at the YMCA, Tobin,

Longfellow, Natick Community Organic Farm, or Natick ASAP.

Hundreds are still on a waiting list.

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Any of the changes under consideration could further reduce after school care availability.

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Weekly Early Release: None of us could enroll all of our current children for a weekly early release. One director noted that if they managed it, tuition would jump significantly. Others would need to slash enrollment by up to 50%, or not offer care at all. The total impact could be a loss of care for hundreds of families, and/or significant tuition increases.

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Aligning Elementary End Times: This will impact YMCA, Longfellow and Tobin’s abilities to transport children to their sites. Without transportation help from NPS, the Y would need to eliminate either Ben-Hem or Brown, and perhaps Memorial. Tobin could only serve transport from three. A suggestion was made students could have snack at schools, waiting for a later bus. However, it would be difficult to find safe, reliable supervision for them, and traffic could lead to untenable waits at the schools.

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Any model in which NHS dismisses after the elementary schools will lead to loss of jobs for NHS students and staff and further reduce our already small staffing pool, as well as increased need for extended day care by families who currently have a younger child supervised by a high schooler after school.

Pros and Cons re. Extended Day Care

OPTION 2: ELEMENTARY ONLY

PROS

Aligning elementary times has a neutral impact on ASAP, unless start times are so early (before 8AM) that we cannot operate Early Risers.

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CONS

* Aligning elementary times means the YMCA, Longfellow, and Tobin couldn’t serve all schools they do now without significant transportation support from NPS. Could reduce enrollment capacity, will cause disruption in care.

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* None of the programs could enroll all current students for a weekly early release. There is no capacity for the additional children who would need care.

OPTION 1: NO CHANGES

PROS

Allows all extended day programs: Natick ASAP, Natick YMCA, Longfellow, Tobin, and Natick Community Organic Farm, to maintain current enrollment capacity.

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CONS

None

OPTION 3: WESTWOOD MODEL

OPTION 4: ALL CHANGES, LOWEST TRANSPORTATION COSTS

PROS

None

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CONS

* Aligning elementary times means the YMCA, Longfellow, and Tobin can’t serve all of the schools they do now, without significant transportation support from NPS. Could reduce capacity, will cause disruption in care.

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* None of the programs could enroll all current students for a weekly early release. There is no capacity for the additional children who would need care.

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* HS and MS dismissal times after elementary dismissal will lead to job loss for ms and hs staff who work at extended day, and reduce the already limited staffing pool for all programs.

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* HS and MS dismissal times after elementary dismissal may lead to greater demand for extended day care.

PROS

None

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CONS

* Aligning elementary times means the YMCA, Longfellow, and Tobin can’t serve all of the schools they do now, without significant transportation support from NPS. Could reduce capacity, will cause disruption in care.

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* None of the programs could enroll all current students for a weekly early release. There is no capacity for the additional children who would need care.

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* HS dismissal times after elementary dismissal will lead to job loss for hs staff who work at extended day, and reduce the already limited staffing pool for all programs.

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* HS dismissal times after elementary dismissal may lead to greater demand for extended day care.

Before & After School Care Pros & Cons

Could not enroll all current children for or accommodate increased need created by a weekly early release day.

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Aligning elementary end times means off-site programs can’t serve all schools without significant transportation support from NPS.

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If HS and MS release after ES, staff would lose jobs and programs would lose staff.

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Maintains current capacity

OPTION 1: No changes

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OPTION 2: Elementary Only

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OPTION 3: Westwood Model

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OPTION 4: All Changes

PROS

CONS

Considered DART districts from DESE, school districts in Metrowest area, and districts from Bay State Athletic Conference.

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General Takeaways - High School: (sheet 2)

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• Of districts considered, average start time is 8:01 am and average end time is 2:39 pm.
• Change in times have varied from 30-90 min range
• 37% high schools considered begin before 8:00 am.
• Only 20% districts in athletic conference have already transitioned to a later start time (Newton North and Brookline).
• Schools that responded have seen a positive change in student energy levels in the a.m.
• Parents and families at schools that have changed the start time to later have given positive feedback

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What Other Districts Do

General Takeaways - Middle School:

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• Of districts considered, ranges of start times are 7:40 - 8:45 am and range of end is time is 2:10 - 3:15 pm.
• Of districts considered, average start time is 8:05 am and average end is 2:39 pm.

What Other Districts Do

General Takeaways - Elementary School:

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• Of districts considered, ranges of start times are 7:50 - 9:00 am and range of end is time is 2:15 - 3:05 pm.
• The average start time is 8:36 am and the average end time is 3:08 pm.
• 30% of districts considered have weekly early release days at the elementary level. The majority of these occur on Wednesdays, followed by Fridays.

Concerns/Wonderings that Emerged:

• In many towns, middle and high schools begin at the same time or within 15 minutes. This is a logistical concern for Natick due to school locations and transportation.
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Uses of CDS Block - 7:30am - 8:10am

(Common Directed Study)

• AP Class Lab time (Math, Science, US History)
• Mentorship
• Guidance Seminar
• Achievement Challenge Empowered Scholars (ACES)
• Skills Development and Reading Workshop
• FPA (2 Choral Programs, Band Leadership)
• PLC Meetings
• Tier 2 classroom support

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Survey Results to High School Principals on Start Time Change - Sheet 2

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Survey for Athletic Director Results