A state mandate regarding school start times has been discussed since 2023, and only now is a directive being pursued after a few years of back and forth between districts and the state. For the public, the majority vote is torn between improving mental health, physical health, and keeping after-school responsibilities and working parent inconveniences to a minimum while school boards try to manage everything in between. The current system of an 8 a.m. or earlier start time has been successful with few implications and inconveniences. Still, the effects on students themselves have begun to raise concerns. A new state law, House Bill 733, will require all public and charter middle schools to start no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and all public and charter high schools to start no earlier than 8:30.
Parents across Florida have not come to a majority vote on this issue, given that much of it is highly circumstantial depending on jobs and location of both work and school. The general feasibility of shared schedules stands in the way of students’ well-being and ability to thrive and vice versa. Childcare challenges become a problem when schools begin around the traditional 9-5 hours, and the current early start time has created fewer problems on this schedule, as well as extracurricular activities and additional childcare responsibilities for older students. A positive to this adapted schedule could be beneficial to decreasing and eliminating stress in the morning.
Problems with the technicality of this bill have been raised by the school board itself, disagreeing with the idea of a state mandate concerning a starting time altogether. States can regulate what time of the year school begins but have never explicitly directed school boards on what time each morning they start. Issues with moving the start time later consist of buying new buses and hiring more drivers after school curriculum and sports being thrown off, thus making this nowhere near as cost-effective as they hoped for. This adds more strain on parents and caregivers if they should juggle a job or other daily activities that require their attention at strict times. Concerns over children of different ages starting at the same time at different schools is a major factor in this decision that districts haven’t quite figured out yet, as well as the general traffic implications around busy cities. Some high school students drive their younger siblings home, and later start times would make this impossible.
A benefit of moving back the start time would be improving students’ mental health and focus on work. Many parents who claim to witness their children having trouble “winding down” before 11 p.m. support this bill if it gets past and mandated. Early school start times, according to a study by the University of Rochester Medical Center, may leave a child at greater risk for depression and anxiety. Sleep deprivation too has been shown to affect academic performance concerning grades and attendance. Health concerns, as well as general engagement, are the main motivators for the passing of this bill into law.
However, even some students disagree with a later start time. Students who have adapted to the current schedule enjoy the early release at 3 p.m. or earlier. It gives them more time to focus on after-school activities like jobs, sports, or even free time for hobbies and family. Though the opportunity cost is sacrificing a few hours of sleep, some argue that this is a fair trade in the realm of productivity.
