Houston ISD School Start Times For 2018-19 Getting Parental Feedback

HOUSTON, TX — Looking to increase efficiency and save money in the 2018-19 school year, Houston ISD is considering two options to standardize school start times across the district. With more than 280 campuses, HISD manages 67 different school start times – which is the highest number in the state. This poses challenges to delivering safe, reliable and affordable transportation for students.

Challenges include ineffective routes, increased cost of maintenance and repairs and reduced bus availability for field trips and athletic events — an increased cost for campuses. This coincides when HISD is facing growing future recapture payments to the state, and as a result, a tighter budget.

“We took several factors into account when drafting these proposed new schedules," said HISD Chief Operating Officer Brian Busby. "At the end of the day, it’s about maximizing time and saving money – which benefits our parents, our schools, and ultimately our students."

Benefits of standardized start times include: increased ridership, more efficient routes that arrive and depart on time, and extended life of the bus fleet. HISD is conducting a survey to measure input on two options for each campus level.

K-8 campuses would fall under the elementary school schedule, and 6-12 campuses would fall under the middle and high school schedule. The options are:

Option 1:

• Elementary school start time: 8:15 a.m.
• Elementary school dismissal time: 3:35 p.m.
• Middle school start time: 7:15 a.m.
• Middle school dismissal time: 2:35 p.m.
• High school start time: 7:15 a.m.
• High school dismissal time: 2:35 p.m.

Option 2:

• Elementary school start time: 8:45 a.m.
• Elementary school dismissal time: 4:05 p.m.
• Middle school start time: 7:30 a.m.
• Middle school dismissal time: 2:50 p.m.
• High school start time: 7:30 a.m.
• High school dismissal time: 2:50 p.m.

To take the parent survey, click here. The survey will close on Nov. 6.

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