School Start/End Times Committee

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is the district changing school start and end times?

The Edmonds School District is adjusting school start and end times to better align with research on adolescent sleep and learning. Studies have shown that later start times for secondary students can support improved health, well-being, attendance, alertness, and academic performance.

What research supports later start times for adolescents?

Medical and sleep experts have found that teenagers experience a natural shift in their sleep cycles during adolescence, making it difficult for many students to fall asleep early enough to get the recommended amount of sleep before an early school start time. Research has linked later start times to improved attendance, increased alertness, better academic outcomes, and positive mental health benefits. A full list of the research reviewed by the committee is below this FAQ section.

Who recommended the changes to school start and end times?

The recommendation came from the district's Start and End Times Task Force, comprised of family, student and staff representation, which spent two years studying the issue at the request of the school board. The task force reviewed research, gathered community feedback, and evaluated operational impacts before making its recommendation.

Why not just move all schools to a later start time?

There have been previous efforts to address school start times, including proposals that shifted all school schedules later. While that idea appears straightforward on its face, it creates challenges at the other end of the day, particularly for schools in the latest transportation tier. As start times move later, dismissal times also move later, which affects activities, childcare, and staff and family schedules. Similar proposals were considered in the past and generated significant community concern regarding those impacts.

Why can’t the district just increase the number of buses and drivers to do two tiers instead of four?

The district's transportation program is budgeted at $19.1 million or about 4.2% of the district's total operating budget. This covers drivers, transportation office, fuel, maintenance and repairs. There is a separate fund for school bus replacement. In Washington, school transportation is funded separately from the state's basic education allocation through a formula known as the Student Transportation Allocation Reporting System (STARS). The goal is to provide districts with funding that covers the cost of transporting eligible students to and from school.

Washington does not reimburse districts based on their actual transportation expenditures. Instead, the state uses a formula that estimates what transportation should cost based on district characteristics. Factors include: the number of students transported, number of students receiving specialized transportation services, average distance students travel, number of schools and stops served.

All that said, even if there was double the funding for transportation costs to upwards of $40 million and then to pay for the purchase of 120 new buses for $20 million, which would allow us to do two tiers instead of four, the issue would then come down to having enough drivers. Schools across Washington struggle to recruit and hire enough drivers to meet the current demand. Doubling the number of drivers would also cut the drivers’ hours in half, which would make it even harder to recruit and maintain enough drivers.

How long has the district been studying this issue?

The district has spent the past two years reviewing research, engaging stakeholders, analyzing survey results, and evaluating the potential impacts of changing school start and end times.

How was community feedback used in the decision-making process?

The district gathered feedback from students, families, and staff through three rounds of surveys. This feedback was reviewed alongside transportation, childcare, equity, and extracurricular considerations to inform the final decision.

When will the new school start and end times take effect?

The revised start and end times will take effect beginning with the 2027-28 school year.

Will there be any changes during the 2026-27 school year?

No. School start and end times for the 2026-27 school year will remain unchanged.

Why is implementation being delayed until the 2027-28 school year?

While many community members expressed a desire to implement changes sooner, district leaders determined that the 2027-28 school year provides the best balance between responding to that feedback and ensuring a successful transition. The additional planning time will allow the district to address transportation, childcare, extracurricular activities, and other operational considerations.

What happens between now and the 2027-28 school year?

Over the next year, the district will continue planning and preparation efforts, including refining transportation routes, collaborating with childcare providers, evaluating impacts on athletics and extracurricular activities, and developing supports for students and families.

Will the district work with local childcare providers?

We recognize that changes to school start and end times can have an impact on family schedules, including child care arrangements. As part of the implementation process, the district would work closely with our before- and after-school child care providers to evaluate the needs of families and explore opportunities to expand access and available options where needed.
Our goal is to ensure that families continue to have reliable child care services that align with the revised school schedules. This may include adjusting program hours, increasing capacity at existing sites, or identifying additional solutions in partnership with child care providers and community organizations, including financial subsidies for those who qualify.

How will the district measure the success of the new schedule?

The district will monitor implementation and review data related to attendance, student engagement, transportation performance, and other indicators to assess the effectiveness of the new start and end times.