Start Time Review FAQ

ISD 199 School Start/End Times Review Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Updated 10/25/2018
 

1.  Why did ISD 199 begin considering changing school start/end times?

A School Start/End Time Review was conducted based on research showing the high school students could benefit from additional sleep that may be afforded with later start times. The research cites biological reasons, beginning with the onset of puberty and progressing through high school, as to why adolescents have a more difficult time going to sleep at night and waking up in the morning. 

There have been a number of studies on adolescent sleep and school start times, including a number by The Center for Applied Research and Education Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota. These studies have concluded later high school start times optimize student learning. The most recent review by CAREI in 2014 also concluded that high schools with later start times allow for more than 60% of students to obtain at least eight hours of sleep per school night. Teens getting fewer than eight hours of sleep are at greater risk of making poor choices with substance use and reported significantly higher depression symptoms and greater use of caffeine. School start times of 8:35 AM and later show significant improvement in students’ state and national achievement test performance, attendance rates, and academic performance outcomes, including grades earned in core subject areas such as math and English. The later start time also resulted in significantly reduced tardiness, and the number of car crashes for teen drivers ages 16 to 18 decreased by 70% when a school shifted start times from 7:35 AM to 8:55 AM.

In August of 2016, the Inver Grove Heights School Board gathered a group of parents, teachers, administrators, and community members to gather information and make a recommendation to the board.


2.  Which start and end time change option was approved at the October 22, 2018, board meeting?
Starting at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, the school schedule will be:
     Elementary schools: 7:50AM - 2:30 PM
     Secondary schools: 8:30 AM - 3:20 PM

3.  What happens now that the flipped schedule has been approved?
During the 10 months before the 2019-2020 school year begins, Inver Grove Heights Schools will put together a transition plan to support families as they adjust their schedules. Though current updates are frequently available on the www.isd199.org homepage, through the Inspire 199 family e-newsletter, the 199 Reporter community newsletter, and occasionally in emails to families and in the local Southwest Review newspaper, all updates are available on the Start Time Review webpage, www.isd199.org/district/start_time_review.

4.  Are there other school districts in Minnesota that have switched or are considering this switch?
There are a number of districts in the metro area, state, and nation that have made the change. Minneapolis and Edina were the first two districts to make the adjustment based on sleep research. More and more area schools are looking at making the change, including South St. Paul Public Schools. The Minnesota legislature even considered a law that would make school start times later.


5.  What are the school start/end times of Metro East Conference Schools?
 

High School Start Times

Start Time

End Time

ISD 200 Hastings

7:50 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

ISD 197 Henry Sibley

8:30 a.m.

3:04 p.m.

Hill-Murray 6-12 Grade

7:40 a.m.

2:10 p.m.

ISD 832 Mahtomedi

8:00 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

ISD 622 North

8:15 a.m.

2:45 p.m.

Saint Thomas Academy

8:00 a.m.

3:00 p.m.

Simley

7:40 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

South St. Paul

7:50 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

ISD 622 Tartan

8:15 a.m.

2:45 p.m.


Middle School Start Times

Start Time

End Time

ISD 200

7:55 a.m.

2:35 p.m.

ISD 197

8:40 a.m.

3:15 p.m.

Hill-Murray 6-12 Grade

7:40 a.m.

2:10 p.m.

ISD 832

8:00 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

ISD 622

7:45 a.m.

2:15 p.m.

Saint Thomas Academy

8:00 a.m.

2:40 p.m.

IGH Middle School

7:40 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

Special District 6

7:50 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

See ISD 622 Above

NA

NA

 

Elementary School Start Times

Start Time

End Time

ISD 200

8:50 a.m.

3:25 p.m.

ISD 197

7:45 a.m.

2:15 p.m.

NA

NA

NA

ISD 832

9:00 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

ISD 622

9:15 a.m.

3:45 p.m.

NA

NA

NA

ISD 199

8:30 a.m.

3:10 p.m.

Special District 6

8:20 a.m.

2:55 p.m.

See ISD 622 Above

NA

NA



6.  Why can’t everyone have the same school start/end times?
A one-tier busing system would mean the bus fleet and number of drivers would need to be doubled. Hiring bus drivers has been a challenge for some time. This would be a significant budget challenge. In a one-tier system, it would be likely that K-12 students would ride the same bus, which could cause safety concerns.


7.  What is a two-tier busing system?
A two-tier system has two different start/end times. This allows buses to run two routes at the beginning of the day and two at the end. This is efficient, as it takes fewer buses and drivers to transport students to school.


8.  Wouldn’t teens get more sleep if parents just made them go to bed earlier and take away television, computer, and cell phone access?
While it is advantageous for parents to limit access to TV and cell phones in the evening, the research states that’s not enough. According to research done by the University of Minnesota, teenagers’ brains shift their sleep cycle during adolescence due to the developmental changes that signal the brain to feel tired. As a result, teens are generally unable to fall asleep before about 10:45 PM and the brain remains in sleep mode until about 8:00 AM.


9.  With the later school start time for middle and high school, won’t kids just stay up later at night?
CAREI (Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement) findings were contrary to the fears and expectations that a later start time would result in students staying awake an hour later on school nights. Students included in the study reported getting an extra hour of sleep each night even after four years into the school start time change.


10.  Our older kids watch our younger ones after school, and daycare can be expensive. How are families supposed to adjust for this?
The school board has made a decision on a change in school start times at their October board meeting to give families time to make adjustments. The board is responsible for making decisions based on the best interests of all students as a whole.


11.  With a later start, will there be a shift to early morning meetings/practices at the middle and high schools? 
Activities will continue to meet after school. The current activity buses run at 4:00 PM. Time will be adjusted to continue to provide activity buses.


12.  Because students will get out of school later at the middle and high school, will students miss class if they are in an event that begins late in the afternoon? (e.g. track meets, tennis matches, cross country meets, etc.)?
Yes. Simley Athletics students already miss a portion of the school day (e.g. golf, tennis, track and field) and they are responsible for getting their school work completed. However, the time most students will miss is anticipated to be minimal. A later school end time will require additional adjustment. Students who participate in co-curricular activities must maintain appropriate grades in order to participate.


13.  What about students who work after school? Will their hours be reduced or will they have to work later into the evening?
The board has made a decision on the school start/end times based on educational research and what is in the best interest of the student. Other districts have already made this change, and there are currently others looking to make the change. Employers in those communities have made adjustments.  


14.  Will morning traffic be impacted by a later middle and high school start time?
According to the Inver Grove Heights Police Department, daily traffic patterns are typically heavier between 6:30 AM-7:30 AM on 80th Street and Cahill Avenue. Based on that information, traffic would improve with a later start time for secondary schools.


15.  Will the schedule during the school day be impacted by a change in start/end times?
School day schedules will be adjusted at the elementary and secondary schools as appropriate to maximize student learning opportunities.


16.  Will a change in school start/end times impact high school students taking PSEO, AP, concurrent enrollment classes?
Analysis of the master schedule at the high school indicates that there will be minimal or no impact for students taking these courses.

17.  Will a change in school start time/end time incur a cost increase?
No. The district will run the same number of routes with the approved schedule change.