School Start Times Frequently Asked Questions

A:  Over the course of many years, the District and Board of Education have received requests from stakeholders to examine the school start times for high schoolers.

In the fall of 2023, the District established a School Start Time Committee featuring representation from the District level and at each building level (elementary, middle, and high) and began researching school start times. 

Based on the data and information available, when secondary schools start prior to 8:30 a.m., adolescent students suffered from sleep deprivation, had poor attendance and increased tardiness.  Schools starting prior to 8:30 a.m. also noticed a decline in academic performance, increased depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation, decreased emotional regulation, increased substance use and abuse, increased motor vehicle crashes, increased risk-taking behavior, among other negative effects.

By shifting to later school start times, the research showed that with a start time no earlier than 8:30 a.m. students experienced improved mental and physical health.  Academically, later school start times improved attendance, attentiveness in the educational setting, academic performance, graduation rates, and athletic performance, among others.

As a result of this research and based on the information available, the District is continuing to explore adjusting school start times.

A:  New school start times and end times are anticipated to be reviewed and considered for adoption at the February 11^th Board of Education meeting.

A:  Pending Board of Education approval, new school start times will be implemented for the 2025-2026 school year.

A: As reflected on District publications, the current start times for schools are:

Elementary Schools

• Dodge, Heim, Forest, Maple East - 8:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
• Country Parkway and Maple West - 8:55 a.m. – 2:55 p.m.

Middle Schools

• Casey, Heim, Mill, Transit - 8:55 a.m. – 3:35 p.m.

High Schools

• Williamsville East, Williamsville North, Williamsville South - 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.

A: The proposed school start times for the 2025-2026 school year are:

Elementary Schools

• Dodge, Heim, Forest and Maple East – 7:50 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Country Parkway and Maple West – 8:20 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Middle Schools

• Casey, Heim, Mill, Transit – 8:20 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

High Schools

• Williamsville East, Williamsville North, Williamsville South – 8:50 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.

A: With a 6-hour and 10-minute school day, the additional time at the Elementary Level will allow teachers to continue to deliver a comprehensive, high-quality instructional program to our youngest learners.

A: To accommodate the 6-hour and 50-minute student day at the high school level, time will be taken from elongated periods and passing times.  While there will be no change in period length at Williamsville North or Williamsville South, the proposal will result in a reduction of one (1) minute per period at Williamsville East.  Additionally, the bell schedules will now be similar across the high schools.

A:  Based on the research available, while Pre-K to 4 students are recommended to receive 10-13 hours of sleep per night, their sleep time and wake time is earlier than secondary school aged-students.  Adjusting the middle and high school start and end times would also require an adjustment at the elementary level to accommodate for transportation.  The District thoroughly reviewed and discussed the logistics involved with an earlier school start time at the elementary level.  In coordination with the transportation department, we determined the earliest transportation run would begin no earlier than 7:00 a.m.

Studies showed that adjusting the school start time at the elementary level increased student attentiveness.  It also allows the ability for schools to maximize the components in the master schedule.  The District thoroughly reviewed and discussed the impact an earlier school start time would have at the elementary level.

A: The District has been and will continue to share updates and information to stakeholders in a variety of ways:

• Proposal Presentation to the Board of Education at January 14^th meeting
• Alert on District/school homepages regarding school start time proposal
• WITSmail/Blackboard letters to stakeholders regarding the comment period
• Text message/push alert for stakeholders to read the school start time letter and proposal
• Information and links included in the District and school bi-weekly newsletters
• Information flyers for each level (elementary, middle, and high school) sent home with students
• Alert on District/school homepages regarding school start times
• Information and links included in the District and school bi-weekly newsletters

As we transition to the new school year, additional correspondence will follow over the course of the summer (examples: postcard in July and school calendar in August).  The District also intends to be responsive and facilitate media requests regarding this initiative.

A: Transportation has been at the forefront of the discussion as the District continued its research and review of school start times.  The District's busing is provided by Student Transportation of America (STA). In working on this matter, STA has been proactive in planning for the potential changes. In an effort to make bus transportation more efficient, bus route adjustments for both morning and afternoon transportation are being decided. Both STA and the District's Transportation Department aim to make this transition as smooth as possible for students and families.

Throughout the course of reviewing the logistics associated with the proposal, the District contacted numerous day care providers.  Of the providers the District had conversations with, they indicated that they will be able to handle any proposed time changes and eight months lead-time is more than sufficient. 

A:  Harkness and other BOCES programs will still available to our students. Currently, students take the regular AM bus run and catch the Harkness bus at their school. With the start time change, students enrolled in AM Harkness will still receive transportation.  Students and families affected by this will receive communication from the Transportation Department over the summer. Afternoon Harkness transportation remains unchanged at this time.

A: According to multiple sources and research, including the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Psychological Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics, with additional sleep students reported a decrease in anxiety and depression and an increase in emotional regulation.  (See: School Start Time Information Page - Research)

A: Sleep is essential to the growth and development of our students. Among the leading medical organizations supporting a change to school start times, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that “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.”

Among the studies available, schools reported an increase in attendance, reduced tardiness, improved academic performance, and graduation rates.

A: Based on the research and information that is currently available, YES.  Multiple studies have shown that for every two minutes school start time is moved back, students gain between 1-2 minutes of additional sleep.  In the Seattle Public Schools and Cherry Creek School District, students received 29-46 minutes of additional sleep with later school start times.

A:  From an athletic perspective, the proposed adjusted school start times would not impact modified, unified, junior varsity, or varsity athletics.  Practices and games can still take place, as evidenced by local school districts that already adopted similar school start times.

Additionally, with an adjustment at the middle and high school levels, the District is working to be able to offer after-school shuttles to middle school student-athletes who participate in junior varsity or varsity competition, at their respective high school. 

A: At the middle school level, the same amount of intramural sessions would be offered with some changes to start and end times.

A:  Extra-curricular activities will still be offered and available to students, understanding that the proposed school times may result in adjustments to starting and end times for these events.