School Start Times

So the doctors have confirmed something parents of teens have known for awhile: Early school start times aren’t good for middle schoolers and high schoolers. The American Academy of Pediatrics pushed a statement this week saying that teens biological rhythm makes later school starts better overall for their health, learning and well-being.

This has been a topic of discussion with parents of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students’ for awhile. Ever since schedules shifted to accommodate bus schedules that helped the system save money, parents of younger and older students have been talking. My child, who started kindergarten today, attends one of the elementary schools that has a 9:15 a.m. bell. That’s pretty late, especially for working parents trying to make morning meetings and schedules. It’s also a late dismissal (4:15 p.m.), which makes it hard for kids to make it to any extracurricular activites and have time to do homework. On the flip side, there are high schools in the area starting as early as 7:30 a.m.

There is a committee within CMS that is strategizing what is best for the students regarding bell schedules. I have heard a rumor that change is coming in 2015, but for now best of luck setting into your family’s 2014-15 schedule.