A new law requiring modifications to the start of the school day in Florida has school authorities planning to move back the start hours across the state. However, some lawmakers and education experts are concerned about the potential difficulties associated with this move.
These modifications are a result of HB 733, a bill that was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis a few days after the Legislature approved it earlier this month.
The law prohibits middle schools from starting the instructional day earlier than 8 a.m. and prohibits high schools from starting the school day before 8:30 a.m.
It is set to go into effect in July and must be implemented by 2026.
The biggest shifts will be seen in public high schools in Florida. According to the Legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, 48% of Florida’s public high schools begin classes earlier than 7:30 a.m. It has been said by supporters of the new law that it will allow students to get enough sleep and be well rested for the school day.
School districts will have three years to create plans since the start times must be implemented by the 2026–2027 academic year.
“I am interested in how this change will benefit children, especially my child. I know many have a tough time getting their kids to school on time and will be able to accommodate with later start times,” Leon County parent Marissa Lacey said.
The measure mandates that each school board must notify the community, comprising parents, students, teachers, administrators and athletic coaches, about the advantages of later school starts and the negative effects of sleep deprivation on middle and high school students. The local strategy for effectively implementing the later start times must be discussed by each district school board within these groups.
However, the plan has raised questions about things like how working parents might be impacted by later school starts and transportation for students. The later start times are also expected to challenge school districts’ strained bus systems. When this time change goes into effect, the district will likely need more bus drivers and buses because fewer routes may be stacked back-to-back and must instead run simultaneously.
“What we’re doing now (with earlier start times) is not what’s best for our kids, for the adolescents especially,” Senate bill sponsor Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, told the Tallahassee Democrat.
Teenagers should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night on a regular basis for excellent health, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Lack of sleep has been linked to increased risk of depression symptoms, poor academic performance, and decreased daily physical activity among students.