Right on Time? How PCPS Views a State Mandate to Change Start Times at Public Schools

Polk County Public School leaders do not have a crystal ball, but when it comes to school start times they have binoculars zoomed in, and what they can see is this: times are changing, and they would like some local control of a statewide mandate to change start times for middle school and high school students.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill in 2023 that requires school districts by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year to adopt new start times that are no earlier than 8 a.m. for middle schools and 8:30 a.m. for high schools.

Citing the health, safety and academic impacts of sleep deprivation, Florida lawmakers changed the legal time at which public schools in Florida start.

Currently, schools within the district are operating within these start times:

Elementary: 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
Middle school: 9 to 9:15 a.m.
High school: 7 a.m.

PCPS Superintendent Fred Heid said the district will adhere to the new statute in two school years if it still remains intact, but until then he and other district officials will advocate for flexibility on a rule that would have significant financial and social ramifications for our communities.

“Because of the geographic size of our school district, because of the density in some communities versus rural nature in other communities, I need a minimum of one hour between the elementary and middle school bus routes. But [if] middle school starts at 8 and high school must start at 9, where do I put elementary kids?” he says. “Do they start at 7, which means they’re out in the dark at 6 o’clock in the morning at a bus stop? Or do I put them at 10 o’clock? Parents can’t do that—they’ve got to get to work. So now do I have to create early childhood options or childcare options on all of our campuses to supervise kids for an extra hour?” 

“Because of the geographic size of our school district, because of the density in some communities versus rural nature in other communities, I need a minimum of one hour between the elementary and middle school bus routes. But [if] middle school starts at 8 and high school must start at 9, where do I put elementary kids.”

– Superintendent Fred Heid

The logistics of such a change for PCPS are complex and multi-layered. The district estimates it would cost an estimated $19 million more per year for adequate transportation for students if the law goes into effect as it stands, and it would impact activities such as athletics and theater, as well as force minors who work to start their shifts later in the afternoon.

Proponents of the bill in the House of Representatives cited a 2014 policy statement titled “School Start Times for Adolescents” from the American Academy of Pediatrics as a basis for the legislation.

“Some of the early research about this is based off a very old study…” Heid argues, mentioning the policy statement. Much of the research in the study was from the early 2000s and some citations were from as far back as 1995.

Heid said he has listened to arguments that changes to start times will improve attendance, create a reduction in the amount of student disciplinary action taken and improve academic outcomes. He acknowledges that you can find some case studies to support that if you “Google” the information, but thus far neighboring counties who have already implemented time changes are not seeing results.

“Last year during one of our conferences I asked [leadership of] Hillsborough County [Public Schools], ‘Did you see any improvements in those areas?’” Heid says. “None. Where’s the breakdown when your legislature is holding up multiple districts [as examples of early adoption], but they never bothered to ask the questions, ‘Did it improve anything?’”   

Some of the questions being asked, and that will continue to be discussed privately and publicly regarding this issue include:

Heid said the district already has initiatives that allow high school seniors to start their day an hour later or leave school an hour early if they are on track to graduate, and ultimately he believes school start times should be determined by what’s most beneficial for students, family and staff in each district.

“My biggest aversion to it is…I think it’s an erosion of local control,” he says. “I think we’re mandating a standardization across the state that doesn’t work for everyone.”