Council Rock Continues To Explore Shift In School Start Times

NEWTOWN, PA — Should Council Rock School District adjust high school start times?

That topic will be discussed during a meeting Thursday, Oct. 24.

Dr. Jackie Kloss, described by the district as a leading expert on the topic of adolescent sleep, will be present at a meeting of the district's Education Committee. She's expected to present relevant information regarding adolescent sleep, health, and school start times. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Chancellor Center.

A change in school start times and a revision to the high school schedule will also be a topic of discussion at the Nov. 21 Education Committee meeting. During that meeting, Council Rock Director of Business Administration Bill Stone will present a long-term financial analysis for both a change in school start times and a change to the high school schedule, according to the district.

Council Rock has been examining potential changes to the district's high school schedule since 2017. In November 2017, the board heard a presentation on school start times.

A High School Schedule Committee was formed in 2018, and the research and recommendations by that committee were presented to the board at a February 2019 Academic Standards Committee Meeting. The same committee also presented a projected timeline for high school schedule changes at the May 2019 Academic Standards Committee.

"Even though the potential start time change under consideration is primarily for grades 9-12, it is important for all CR families to follow the conversation as a change at the high school level would likely have an impact on middle and elementary start times," the district said in an announcement on its website.

The topic of high school start times is one being explored by many districts. Just this week, California became the first state to legislatively mandate that high school start times be pushed back to 8:30 a.m.