Rondout Valley Central School District
Later School Start Time Survey
October 13, 2016
Introduction
The Rondout Valley Central School District (RVCSD) is exploring the possibility of later start times for its
middle and high school students. As part of this process, RVCSD administered a survey to solicit community
opinion on this topic. The Board of Education engaged The Benjamin Center at SUNY New Paltz to analyze
survey responses. This document reports results from that analysis; section I reports responses from all
survey respondents, section II reports parent responses, section III reports staff responses, section IV
presents student responses, and section V reports responses of community members. The last question of
the survey asked for comments; section VI lists these. 320 people responded to this survey (N=320).1
I. All Respondents
Survey respondents were predominately parents (71.3%), followed by students (17.5%), community
members (9.4%), and then RVCSD staff (5%). Overall, respondents are supportive of moving to a later
school start time at the Intermediate, Junior High, and High School. The top three areas respondents think
will be most impacted by a later school start time are extracurricular activities, homework, and family time.
The sample for this group is 320.
Table 1. Respondents by role, percent, N =320
5%
Table 1 shows the breakdown of all
respondents who participated in the
survey. Parents were the largest group
of respondents (71.3%), followed by
community members (19.4%),
students (17.2%), and staff (5%).
19.40%
17.20%
71.30%
Parent
Student
Staff Member
Community Member
Table 2: Relevant grade levels of respondents, percent, N = 320
43.40%
Table 2 presents the percent of respondents
within each grade group. Grades 4 - 8
represent the largest percentage (44.7%),
followed closely by grades 9-12 (43.4%) and
PreK - 3 (27.5%).
27.50%
44.70%
Grade PreK - 3
Grade 4 - 8
Grade 9 - 12
1
There was some overlap between roles; some respondents reported themselves as parents and community
members. Likewise, some respondents reported themselves as parents and staff. In these instances, responses are
counted in both categories.
1
Table 3. Support for later start times, percent, N = 315
60
Table 3 shows respondents’ level of
support for later start times. Support is
indicated on a five point scale, with 1
indicating not at all supportive and 5
indicating complete support. Over 60%
are supportive of later school start
times for RVCSD.
50
50
Percent
40
30
20.3
20
10.9
10.6
3
4
6.6
10
0
1 (Not at All
Supportive)
2
5 (Completely
Supportive)
Table 4. Performance will improve with a later start time, percent, N = 318
80
Table 4 shows the percentage of respondents
who believe performance of students will
improve if the intermediate, junior high, and
high school start later. Approximately twothirds of respondents believe student
performance will improve with a later school
start time.
68.4
70
Percent
60
50
40
30.9
30
20
10
0
yes
no
Table 5. Areas affected by a later school start time, percent, N = 320
60
50
40
54.7
47.5
45.3
34.4
33.4
33.4
28.7
Percent
30
20
10
0
2
Table 5 reports respondents’
opinions about the areas that
will be most affected by a later
start time. Extracurricular
activities (54.7%), homework
(47.5%), and family time
(45.3%) were the three most
often cited areas.
Table 6. Morning bus pickup time, percent, N = 318
75.3
80
Table 6 shows the respondents’
opinions about current morning bus
pickup time. Three quarters of
respondents report that the current
bus pickup time is too early.
70
60
Percent
50
40
30
23.8
20
10
0.3
0
Just Right
Too Early
Too Late
Table 7. Impact on schedule, percent, N = 319
45
41.6
40
35
Percent
30
31.3
26.9
25
20
15
10
Table 7 shows whether survey
respondents believe later school start
times will impact their schedules. Most
respondents believe their schedule will
not be impacted (41.6%) or will be
made easier (26.9%) by a later start
time. Approximately one third (31.3%)
report that their schedule will be
negatively affected.
5
0
Make it Easier
Make it More Difficult
No Change
Table 8. Difficulty changing schedule if Grades 4 – 12 started later, percent, N = 317
50
47.2
45
40
Percent
35
30
29.1
22.8
25
20
15
10
5
0
Can be Adjusted if
Given Enough Time
Not an Issue
Very Difficult
3
Table 8 shows how difficult respondents
think it will be to make the necessary
schedule changes if grades 4 – 12 start
later. Almost 50 percent report that this will
not be an issue, 29.1 percent report that
they can make the change if given enough
time; approximately 23 percent report the
change will be difficult.
Table 9. Respondents who reviewed start time research, percent, N = 320
40
35
35
30
30
Percent
25
20.6
20
15
10
5
5.3
1 (Reviewed
None of the
Research)
2
5
0
3
4
5 (Reviewed
All of the
Research)
4
Table 9 reflects respondents’
answers to whether they had
reviewed research about later
school start times for
adolescents. This was measured
on a five point scale with 1
indicating no review of research
and 5 indicating review of all
research. Most respondents had
reviewed some research.
II. Parent Reponses
Parent responses to the survey are analyzed by grade group, prek-3, 4-8, 9-12, since later school start times
will impact parents differently depending on their child’s grade level. The majority of parents are in support
of a later school start time at the intermediate, junior high, and high schools. Extracurricular activities,
homework time, and family time are the three areas that were most often identified by parents as being
impacted by a later school start time. 228 parents responded to this survey (N = 228).
Table 1. Parents, grade level, percent, N=228
35.10%
Table 1 shows the distribution of
parent responses by associated grade
level. The largest group is parents with
children in grades 4 – 8 (56.1%),
followed by PreK – 3 (36.8%), and 9 –
12 (35.1%).
36.80%
56.10%
PreK - 3
4 -- 8
9 -- 12
Table 2. Parents, support for a later school start time, percent, N = 233
48.8
49.2
60
37.5
50
13.8
12.5
11.3
6.3
6
10
13.3
12.5
18
16.7
9.5
20
21.3
30
17.9
PERCENT
40
0
PRE K - 3
1 (Not At All Supportive)
4 -- 8
2
3
9 – 12
4
5 (Completely Supportive)
5
Table 2 shows parents’
level of support for
later school start times,
as measured by a fivepoint scale, with 1
indicating not at all
supportive and 5
indicating complete
support. Across the
three grade groups,
parents are supportive
of a later start time.
Percent
Table 3. Parents, performance will improve with a later start time, percent, N = 226
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
76.2
Table 3 represents the percentage
of parents who believe performance
of students will improve if the
intermediate, junior high, and high
school start later. Across the three
grade groups, most parents believe
student performance will improve.
70.3
58.8
38.8
29.7
23.8
Pre K - 3
4 --8
No
9 – 12
Yes
Table 4. Parents, areas affected by later school start time, percent, N = 228
58.8
50
20
11.7
16.7
21.3
30
26.3
30
40
41.3
43.8
45.3
36.7
40
35.9
34.4
44.5
46.4
39.3
PERCENT
50
45.2
50
60
56
57.1
70
10
0
PRE K - 3
4 -- 8
Family Time
Before School Care
Part time Job (for students)
9 – 12
Commuting
Homework Time
After School Care
Extracurricular Activities
Table 4 shows the areas
parents think will be
impacted by later school
start times. For the PreK –
3 grade-group, family time
received the most
responses; for the 4 – 8
grade group, homework
received the most
responses; parents of 9 –
12 graders cited
extracurricular activities.
Table 5. Parents, current morning bus pickup time, percent, N = 226
100
80
Percent
78.9
78.6
68.8
60
40
30
21.4
20.3
20
0
0
0
0
Pre K - 3
Just Right
4 -- 8
Too Early
9 – 12
Too Late
6
Table 5 shows parents’ thoughts about
morning bus pickup. For grades prek – 8,
more than three quarters of parents
think the current bus pick up time is too
early in the morning; this same
sentiment is reported for almost 70
percent of parents with children in
grades 9-12. No parents report the
pickup time being too late.
Table 6. Parents, impact on schedule, percent, N = 229
50
44
45
40
37.5
40
35
Percent
30
32
31
33.8
30.5
25
25
25
20
Table 6 shows the affect that
parents believe that a later
school start time will have on
their own schedule. Across the
three grade groups, most
parents believe their schedule
will not be affected by a later
start time.
15
10
5
0
Pre K - 3
4 -- 8
Make it easier
9 – 12
Make it More Difficult
No Change
Table 7. Parents, difficulty changing schedule, percent, N = 226
50
46.4
45.3
42.5
45
40
Percent
35
33.3
33.8
31.3
30
23.4
25
21.3
20.2
20
15
10
5
Table 7 shows how difficult
parents think it will be to make
the necessary schedule
changes if grades 4 – 12 start
later. Across the three grade
groups, most parents report
that this will not be an issue, or
that their schedules can be
adjusted if given enough time.
0
Pre K - 3
4 --8
Can be Adjusted if Given Enough Time
Not an Issue
9 – 12
Very Difficult
Table 8. Parents, Reviewed research, N = 219
40
35
35
30
Percent
30
25
20.6
20
15
10
5
5.3
5
0
1 (Reviewed none of the research)
2
3
4
5 (Reviewed all of the research)
7
Table 8 reflects parents’ answers
to whether they had reviewed
research about later school start
times for adolescents. This was
measured on a five point scale
with 1 indicating no review of
research and 5 indicating review
of all research. Most parents
responded 3 or higher on the
scale, meaning that most parents
reviewed at least some research.
III. Staff Member Responses
Most staff members (43.8%), were not at all in support of a later school start time at the intermediate,
junior high, and high school levels. Staff members’ top concerns for areas they anticipate will be impacted
by a later start time are extracurricular activities (75%), followed by before and after school care (56.3%).
Staff responses are reported as whole (not broken into grade groups) because of the small sample for this
group; sixteen staff members responded to this survey (N = 16).
Table 1. Staff Members, grade level, percent, N = 16
37.50%
Table 1 shows the composition of the
staff sample. 50 percent of
respondents teach in grades 4 – 8; the
remaining are equally divided between
preK – 3 and 9 - 12 (37.5%).
37.50%
50%
PreK-3
4--8
9--12
50
45
43.8
Table 2. Staff Members, support for a later start time, percent, N = 16
40
35
25
18.8
25
20
12.5
15
10
5
0
PERCENT
30
0
1 (Not at All Supportive)
2
3
4
5 (Completely Supportive)
8
Table 2 shows staff
members’ level of support
for school start times,
measured on a five point
scale, with 1 indicating not
at all supportive and 5
indicating complete support.
Most staff respondents are
not supportive of a later
start time; one quarter are
completely supportive.
Table 3. Staff Members, performance will improve with a later start time, percent, N = 16
60
50
Table 3 shows staff responses to the
question of whether later start times will
improve student performance.
Respondents are evenly split, with half
believing later start times will improve
performance and half believing later start
times will not improve performance.
50
50
Percent
40
30
20
10
0
No
Yes
Table 4. Staff Members, areas impacted by a later start time, percent, N = 16
75
80
Table 4 shows the areas that
staff members think will be
most impacted by a later start
time for grades 4 – 12.
Extracurricular activities
(75%), and before and after
school care (56.3%) are the
top three responses.
37.5
50
43.8
43.8
PERCENT
50
60
56.3
56.3
70
40
30
20
10
0
Family Time
Before School Care
Part time Job (for students)
Commuting
Homework Time
After School Care
Extracurricular Activities
Table 5. Staff Members, morning bus pickup time, percent, N = 16
56.3
60
50
Table 5 shows staff opinions of morning
bus pickup time. More than half report
that the morning bus pickup time is too
early (56.3%). The remaining staff
members report that the morning bus
pickup time is just right (43.8%). None
of the respondents think bus pickup is
too late.
43.8
Percent
40
30
20
10
0
Just Right
Too Early
Too Late
9
Table 6. Staff Members, impact on schedule, percent, N = 16
60
56.3
Table 6 shows respondents’ reports
of how later school start times will
impact their own schedule. Most staff
members report that starting later
will make their schedules more
difficult (56.3%), some believe the
change will not affect their schedule
(37.5%), and a small percent (6.3%),
believe that the change will make
their schedule easier.
50
37.5
Percent
40
30
20
10
0
6.3
Make it easier
Make it More Difficult
No Change
Table 7. Staff Members, difficulty changing schedule if Grades 4 – 12 started later, percent, N = 16
56.3
60
Table 7 shows how difficult
staff members think it will be to
make the necessary schedule
changes if grades 4 – 12 started
later. Most staff members think
that their schedule will be very
difficult to change (56.3%).
50
37.5
Percent
40
30
20
6.3
10
0
Can be Adjusted if Given Enough Time
Not an Issue
Very Difficult
Table 8. Staff Members, reviewed research, percent, N = 15
40
37.5
37.5
35
30
Percent
25
20
15
10
12.5
6.3
5
0
0
1 (Reviewed none of the research)
2
3
4
5 (Reviewed all of the research)
10
Table 8 reflects staff members’
answers to whether they had
reviewed research about later
school start times, measured
on a five point scale with 1
indicating no review of
research and 5 indicating
review of all research. Most
staff member Over 90 percent
indicated that they reviewed
at least some research.
IV. Student Responses
Most students are supportive of a later school start time at the intermediate, junior high, and high school
levels. Extracurricular activities, family time, and part time jobs are the top three areas that students
believe will be impacted by a later start time. Student responses are not broken out by grade group
because there were too few 4-8 respondents and given the grade configuration of RVCSD, the impact will
be the same on students in these two grade groupings. There were no respondents from the prek-3 group.
The sample for this group is 55.
Table 1. Students, grade level, percent, N = 55
Table 1 shows the number breakdown of
student responses within each grade
group. Grade group 9 – 12 has the most
student responses (89.3%), followed by
grade group 4 – 8 (10.7%).
10.7
89.3
4--8
9--12
Table 2. Students, support for a later start time, percent, N = 55
70
61.8
60
Percent
50
40
30
20
10.9
12.7
7.3
10
7.3
0
1 (Not at All Supportive)
2
3
4
5 (Completely Supportive)
11
Table 2 shows students’ level
of support for later start times.
The survey used a five point
scale to determine support,
with 1 indicating not at all
supportive and 5 indicating
complete support. Most
students are completely
supportive of a later start time
(61.8%).
Table 3. Students, improved performance with a later start time, percent, N = 55
90
Table 3 shows that
most students believe
that student
performance will
improve with a later
school start time
(78.2%).
78.2
80
70
Percent
60
50
40
30
21.8
20
10
0
No
Yes
Table 4. Students, areas impacted by a later start time, percent, N = 55
67.3
80
49.1
50
29.1
40
29.1
40
30
20
PERCENT
60
56.4
70
20
10
Table 4 shows the
areas students think
will be most impacted
by a later start time.
Extracurricular
activities (67.3%), part
time job (56.4%), and
homework time
(49.1%) are the top
three areas cited.
0
Family Time
Commuting
After School Care
Before School Care
Homework Time
Extracurricular Activities
Part time Job (for students)
Table 5. Students, morning bus pickup time, percent, N = 55
90
83.6
80
70
Percent
60
50
40
30
20
14.5
10
1.8
0
Just Right
Too Early
Too Late
12
Table 5 shows that most
students believe that the
current bus pickup time is
too early (83.6%).
Percent
Table 6. Students, impact on schedule, percent, N = 55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
47.3
27.3
Make it easier
Table 6 shows that close to 50 percent of
students anticipate that a later school
start time will result in no change to
their schedule (47.3%); slightly more
than one quarter (27.3%) believe that
their schedule will be simplified, and one
quarter (25.5%) anticipate their schedule
becoming more difficult with a later
start time.
25.5
Make it More Difficult
No Change
Table 7. Students, difficulty changing schedule if Grades 4 – 12 started later, percent, N = 55
60
Table 7 shows how difficult
students think it will be to make
the necessary schedule changes if
grades 4 – 12 started later. Most
students think that this will not be
an issue (52.7%).
52.7
50
Percent
40
29.1
30
16.4
20
10
0
Can be adjusted if given more Time
Not an Issue
Very Difficult
Table 8. Students, Reviewed Research, percent, N = 53
45
40
40
35
Percent
30
23.6
25
21.8
20
15
10
5
7.3
3.6
0
1 (Reviewed none of the research)
2
3
4
5 (Reviewed all of the research)
13
Table 8 reflects students’
answers to whether they had
reviewed research about later
school start times for
adolescents. This was
measured on a five point
scale with 1 indicating no
review of research and 5
indicating review of all
research. Most students had
reviewed much of the
research.
V. Community Member
Survey results show that community members are in support of a later school start time at the
intermediate, junior high, and high school levels. The areas community members think will be most
impacted by a later school start time are extracurricular activities, family time, before school care, and time
for homework. There were responses from 62 members of the community (N = 62).
Table 1. Community Members, support for a later start time, percent, N = 62
70
61.3
60
Table 1 shows that over
half (61.3%) of community
members are completely
supportive of a later
school start time.
Percent
50
40
30
17.7
20
12.9
10
6.5
1.6
0
1 (Not At All Supportive
2
3
4
5 (Completely Supportive)
Table 2. Community Members, performance will improve with a later start time, percent, N = 62
90
80
Table 2 shows that more than three
quarters (77.4%) of community
respondents believe that a later
school start time will improve
student performance.
Less than a quarter (22.6%) of
community members responded
that performance will not improve.
77.4
70
Percent
60
50
40
30
22.6
20
10
0
Yes
No
14
Table 3. Community Members, areas affected by a later start time, percent, N = 62
70
Table 3 shows the areas that
community respondents believe
will be affected by later school
start times; extracurricular
activities are the most common
cited area, followed by before
school care, and time for
homework.
61.3
60
46.8
Percent
50
38.7
37.1
40
45.2
29
30
24.2
20
10
0
Family Time
Before School Care
Part time Job (for students)
Commuting
Homework Time
After School Care
Extracurricular Activities
Table 4. Community Members, morning bus pickup time, percent, N = 62
90
83.9
Table 4 shows that more than three
quarters (83.9%) of community
respondents believe that current
morning bus pickup is too early. No
community respondents report that
the pickup time was too late.
80
70
Percent
60
50
40
30
16.1
20
10
0
0
Just Right
Too Early
Too Late
Table 5. Community Members, impact on schedule, percent, N = 62
56.5
60
Table 5 illustrates that slightly more than
half of community respondents (56.5%)
believe that later school start times will
not have an impact on students’
schedules. Just under a quarter of
community members (24.2%) believe
that a later school start time will make
students’ schedules more difficult.
50
Percent
40
30
24.2
19.4
20
10
0
Make it Easier
Make it More Difficult
No Change
15
Table 6. Community Members, difficulty changing schedule if Grades 4 – 12 started later, percent, N = 62
50
46.8
Table 6 shows how difficult
community members think
it will be to make the
necessary schedule changes
if grades 4 – 12 start later.
Just under half of
community members
responded that there will be
no issue with the schedule
change (46.8%).
45
40
35
32.3
Percent
30
25
19.4
20
15
10
5
0
Can be Adjusted if Given Enough Time
Not an Issue
Very Difficult
Table 7. Community members, Reviewed Research, percent, N = 59
35
32.3
30.6
30
25.8
Percent
25
20
15
10
4.8
5
1.6
0
1 (Reviewed none of the research)
2
3
4
5 (Reviewed all of the research)
16
Table 7 reflects community
members’ answers to whether
they had reviewed research
about later school start times for
adolescents. This was measured
on a five point scale with 1
indicating no review of research
and 5 indicating review of all
research. Most community
members’ had reviewed at least
some research.
VI: Respondent comments
Thank you for adding the survey to the school website.
Work schedules of parents could not be adjusted with the later start time and that would be a huge burden on
the families
It’s a great idea.
We need to do what's best for our children. Research shows later start times will be an improvement for overall
student health. Instead of pushing more pressure onto our children, we need to adapt and help in any ways we
can. With scientific evidence proving that student’s brains don't fully function until a certain point in the day, why
expect students to function before that? While it will be a hassle AT FIRST for families to adjust to new times, it
will not be so drastic that it completely changes how students will live day to day. We will adjust just like we
always do, and it will all work out. I understand many parents are against this due to inconveniences to their
schedules, however, we can't ignore hard evidence and ignore student help in order to convenience a few. Our
children and their health should always come first.
Parents have to do their part for their own children. Establishing routines is also key and moving times will not
impact homes that have no structure or accountability.
Another reason why kids today have no discipline or work ethic. Go to bed at a decent hour at night and stay off
the video games and cell phones and they should have no trouble getting up for school. Generations of kids have
done it without issue.
I think the research is very clear on this subject, and if we want our tweens and teens to perform to the best of
their abilities in school, have positive attitudes, and be happy, we should not handicap them with a starting time
that runs counter to their biological and developmental needs.
I have high school kids who do sports all year long they already don't get home until 5:30 or later from practices
and games/meet nights even later some days it is very hard for them to get homework done with getting home
late I believe a later start time would make them even later getting home and more difficult and all it is going to
do is make kids stay up later because they do not have to get up as early so they are going to get the same
amount of sleep they were getting with an earlier start time
Our students who live the farthest away from the main campus could have shorter bus runs in order to have them
picked up later.
I think that it is difficult to look at this issue in isolation when there are so many related issues that should be
examined. For instance, research also shows the complete ineffectiveness of all homework until high school
(beyond just addl reading). Also, research shows that sitting for prolonged periods make it difficult for students to
maintain focus and learn. Research also shows the benefits of an hour of recess. I'm not against thinking about
how to improve the health and well being of our students, but I think if we're going to look at it, we should
examine the entire day. Sleep is only one facet. I don't understand the "cherry picking" of research in this case. I
also think that it is very hard to fully determine our feelings on this issue without knowing how it will affect the
lower grades. I think as a district we need to look holistically at the issue of health and well being for our
students, not just in the singular dimension of sleep. I'm always open to conversation and collaboration and
dialogue. Best, Kim Cohen Parent to 3rd grader at MES
17
My concern is for after school sports begin and end times...especially in the fall when games need to be finished
before an increasingly early dusk...or played on illuminated fields. The cost of lighting several playing fields needs
to be factored in (football, soccer fields, etc) Also, some schools may not be on a later start schedule, this could
affect travel to and from them...ie BOCES
I did not answer the question regarding areas that would be affected by a later start time for grades 4-12 because
it isn't clear whether it is intended to be positively or negatively measured. I feel our family time and commuting
time would be POSITIVELY affected by a later start time. I honestly can't think of anything negative about making
such a change. The current schedule is something my child struggles with every single day. Having a later start
time would be a huge quality of life improvement for my family.
I truly commend the Board for being proactive on a topic that is basically universally supported by the research
but is not acted upon widely simply because this is the way it's always been done. One suggestion: look at
whether some after school activities can be shifted to the morning. Starting the day with exercise (or music, etc.)
may also help alleviate some of the issues, especially if there ends up being a concern that the school day will end
too late, or that the darkness of winter afternoons will impede after school activities/sports.
BOCES and sports
I understand first hand how such an early start time affects some students. My son was one of these kids that just
could not get up that early. But unless other schools in the area also start and end the same time, this will greatly
affect all sports and this will only make my daughter do homework later into the night, and get less sleep anyway.
I like the idea of the later start time and know it will be better for students. My concerns regard the amount of
homework they will be given with a new time schedule. Will that decrease if there is a later start time? Also
wonder what will happen to those students that work and how that will challenge them. My kids are little so it is a
long way off but I know many teenagers in our area work, out of necessity and worry about how that will hit them
and their need to earn a wage.
An hour would be great
I feel a later start time for intermediate and Junior High would be beneficial. I am mot sure about High School. I
like the way they do the start and end times in the Florida school districts, this may be something to look into.
What would happen to AM Ulster BOCES?
While I am supportive of a later start time for grades 4-12 (more so for grades 6-12 than the early grades), I feel it
is also important to note that I am not supportive if the change comes at the expense of the K-3 grades. 6:30 is
also too early of a start of pick up time for these little ones. I would be most supportive of a schedule that would
allow similar start times for all grades, even if that means that young children are bussed with older children, as
long as appropriate bus supervision is provided. Child care arrangements and work arrangements must also be
considered for the families who have both K-3 and 4-12 students. In other words, the decisions about how to
address the challenges of early start times for teenagers should not be made in isolation of how this affects
families and families with younger children.
Overdue! Great to see Rondout forging ahead with research based educational initiatives. Like well rested
students who can learn.
I personally enforce an 8pm bedtime for all my children, but this doesn't mean they are asleep at that time. Just in
bed winding down sometimes reading for 20 minutes. A later start time could be beneficial depending upon how
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much later. My oldest child gets on the bus at 6:30 am. This means a 5:30 am wake up time. If it was one hour
later I think that could make all the difference in the world. 2 hours later would be too much however.I also
believe that as our children get older it is important for them to be able to get up and get going in the morning as
their future employers won't adjust start times to accommodate. A one hour later start time would allow for more
sleep, but any later would interfere with after school activities/care and important family time. Thank you for
allowing me to voice my opinion.
Please start school later!!! My child gets on the bus at around 6:30 for 4th grade. It's way to early for a 9-10 year
old!!!
I am glad this is being addressed. This has been a topic of conversation since I was at RVHS and I am glad that we
are now actively addressing the topic. I am in total support of this because at the end of the day it will be healthier
for our kids.
I think this is ridiculous! This will effect families as well as the community. It will effect sports as other schools are
not in this schedule. It will effect family time. And, what about elementary children? Do you propose they start
school at 8:00 which means many little ones will have to get the bus at 7:00 or earlier OR if the day ends at 4, little
ones will not get home until after 5! This will effect soccer, baseball, girl/Boy Scouts! Please don't change!
Are you freaking kidding me???! Think about this and now it will effect so many things!
How can you possible have a survey like this when you don't know how it will effect k-3? Once again elementary
students are put last. Be fair and say how this will really play out!
Why not investigate on how Japan and other countries have children learn more and pay less than the USA
On the fence about this topic for many reasons.
Growing up in the City, my school started classes at 8:30 am; but most of the student body commuted from other
boroughs or nearby suburbs (as did most of the faculty) and had to be out their doors before 7:00, rising at 6:00
or 6:30. We stayed after school to play sports and stayed up late to do homework. In other words, our circadian
clocks were at least as much at odds with the "ideal" model proposed by the researchers you cite as are those of
Rondout students now. That did not keep us from learning--because what mattered was how good our teachers
were, how much our parents expected of us and how ambitious we were. When adolescents wake up and when
they go to sleep matters less than what is expected of them when they are awake. Another, much larger,
counterexample to the conclusions of the researchers you sampled is the U.S. military. 18 year-olds are forced to
learn new things, under duress, at all hours of the day and night and they manage it--not because they are wellrested, but because the military knows how to teach them what they must learn. Military pedagogues have
grasped the formation of the late-adolescent brain with remarkably more depth, urgency and insight than sleep
researchers do, because they have much more riding on their success than another research grant.
I have concerns about BOCES students
My concern is for the children in sports. If the other schools do not do this how will they feel regarding having
later game times?? Also the athletes will then be getting home much later and have to try to concentrate to do
their homework at a much later time. I do not feel this will help them academically. And because of that they
could be removed from sports bc their academics are not well. I truly feel it may work for students who do not
participate in extracurricular activities but I think it will definitely backfire for those students who do remain in
activities/sports. It's not fair to them to ask them to stay up and perform effective schoolwork at 9 o'clock at
night.
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With my child participating on sports, she already gets home later especially on nights when she has games. A
later start time would make that worse and I don't feel that completing homework at 9 or 10 o'clock at night
when she can barely focus makes the most sense either. After a long day at school and practice she's asleep by
9:30!
A later start time for students will make it harder on most working families. The average job begins at 7 or 8 am.
This means that the child will be up early any way due to the fact that now the parent has to bring the child
somewhere for them to get on the bus, because they can no longer do that at home and still be on time for work.
That brings me to my second point. When the student gets out of school they are going to hopefully get a job and
contribute to society. Which on average starts in the early morning. Meaning getting up very early to get
everything ready for the day then commuting to his/her job. So, yes, studies may conclude that the child will get
more sleep, be more attentive, and retain information better, but I was under the impression that school is
,especially in the later grades, designed to prepare you for the real world. Where this is when you have to be to
work, and if you're tired nobody cares as long as you get your work done and if you don't get your work done you
get fired. I would like to know how coddling students and shielding them from this reality is in any way beneficial
to them?
We have started to consider other options for our child due to the early start times. We hope the district will
change so we can continue to embrace public education.
It always boggled my mind that school started so early. I'd be a zombie for the first few periods, be awake just
before lunch and then crash after. So the last few periods weren't fruitful for learning because of exhaustion. I
would occasionally go to the nurses office to take naps. The standard timeframe makes no sense! If you want
children to flourish as best they can, they should be getting adequate sleep regularly. There's many ways that
public school education can be improved but alot of red tape involved, however, this later start idea is a great and
plausible opportunity to provide better education and a healthier lifestyle. I urge you not only to do a later start
time, but to also implement a simple research study looking at academic performance and early start time vs.
later start time. In a few years, you can publish the study so other school districts can refer to it.
Please leave the schedule as is.
My child and I have spoken numerous times about how this would be beneficial. He naturally falls asleep late,
even though he goes to bed at 9pm, and I have to shake him out of a deep sleep (his alarm just doesn't do the
trick). I hope this gets implemented soon! Thanks for your work on it!
I find it very difficult to get up in the morning and my sister is always much more on time than me to get to the
bus. also, I find myself yawning throughout the day for unknown reasons and I often lose focus but can soon
recover. I don't know if these are symptoms of not enough sleep or it's just me.
I am sleep deprived.
My daughter used to love school but she is so tired in the morning that she has started to dread school overall. On
band/lessons day it is especially hard to have lesson right away. All she looks forward to are days off to catch up
on sleep. It is sad to see a 4th grader already hating school.
I'm in favor!!!! Thank you!
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Middle school and elementary school starting at drastically different times is a big problem, and combined with
the health/performance risks of the early start schedule, is definitely not acceptable.
Later start times allowing for an extra hour of sleep in the mornings would undoubtedly help many of our teens.
Ideally, an 8:30am - 8:45am start time would be adopted county wide so all of the local high schools were on the
same schedule so after school sports could be coordinated.
My daughter is picked up at 7:00am. I have older children that are 31 and 29. The bus picked them up at 7:30 and
dismissal was at 2:10. So Rondout has increase the amount of time that students are in school already. My
daughter takes a nap sometimes when she comes home. this makes up for her sleep lost at night. I think children
adjust for the sleep problem. My daughter sleeps until 11:00am on the weekends and I let her do it. I go to work
at 7:30 to 2:30. I changed my hours to fit the school schedule when my daughter went to middle school 3 years
ago. I cannot change my hours again. I think you should leave the schedule as it is. It has always been this way and
students have surveyed in the past.
Great idea to start later. Go with the science. You'll need a lot of education to sway the nay sayers. We've been
treating ourselves like machines; work, work, work. We need to live. Also work on giving less homework.
I feel adjusting to a later time is setting children up for failure - In the real world life and employment does not
change because you need to sleep later. In addition how will the effect sports, BOCES, afterschool jobs and
latchkey kids.
My younger child is extremely affected as we need to get him up VERY early in order to get her sister on the bus
and this affects his day as he does not get the bus until 815 it makes it for an extremely difficult morning on him
and on the parent that has to yell in order to get them going in the morning. where as before they both got up at
7 got ready ate brkfast together something they are no longer doing bc i dont have time and catch the bus
together.
A later start time means a later end time. This will have an effect on after school activities and commitments as
well as home work time, family time, etc. I am not in support of a later start times as they would very negatively
impact our household.
I think it's an excellent idea ! I know my 7th grader would do much better in 8th grade if he had a late start time.
My children catch the bus at 6:47am , meaning they wake up 5:30-5:45am every school day ! That is way too
early
What time would we get out if school starts later?
Most parents have to be to work between 7 and 830, I think that moving start times earlier will only adjust the
time that kids are at the sitters, and will NOT impact how much sleep they get. Regardless of the time school will
start, the children will still go to the sitter's at the same time. This is not being addressed, and therefore will only
take time AWAY from families.
I am a mother of 2 young children in Rondout and I support a later start time! A good nights rest for children &
young adults is very important! A 6:30 pick up is too early and if students sleep better they would be better rested
& more successful at school.
Morning times-no issues. In fact- welcomed. Only concern is school sports programs. Currently games are
scheduled for 4ish. For away games students leave at dismissal. With a schedule change would they in fact miss
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apart if the school day to make the away games? Or would the games times be pushed back which results in
getting home later in the evening. Thus is a concern but regardless we are on board with the time change.
As you've said no proposals have been made as to changes in time as of yet but these kids get up too early and
they do have a hard time falling asleep at night. I would be open o the thought of change depending on how late.
It would be a problem making it to work at a later start time and it doesn't matter if there was a later start time
the kids will still get the same amount of sleep they will just stay up later. Robert gerdes
It would be a problem making it to work at a later start time and it doesn't matter if there was a later start time
the kids will still get the same amount of sleep they will just stay up later. Robert gerdes
While it's theoretically a good idea to start school at a later time, it would have other effects that wouldn't be so
good. It would lessen the time students have to complete homework, participate in family time, and do other
things after school. It would also negatively impact the schedule of kids in sports and other after school activities.
I am not in favor at all of this my kids get home Late enough after sports that getting home later will make it more
difficult than it is already. Most teenagers will end up staying up later and get same amount of sleep they were
before. This also is making it harder for parents who need child care before and after school and costing them
more if they pay for child care now they will pay more in morning care due to later time getting on the bus
because it does not change the time they need to be to work which also means those kids do not get extra sleep
anyway because they still need to be to a daycare at 6 am no matter what time the kids school start time is it
doesn't change the parents work time
There would be a lot less time for after school activities. Sports would be impossible, far later practices with very
little homework and family time. High school students that need to work after school will have little opportunity
to do so.
Most stupidest thing I ever heard. Have a brother in 11th grade who will drop out and work for me full time.
Suppose to teach kids to prepare for future. Stop pampering them or they'll never be ready for the real world.
I imagine that some extracurricular activities' meetings might be better placed before school. Might there be an
early bus run, the way there is a late bus run?
I feel that the problem is too much homework. These children go to school at a reasonable hour, but they have so
much homework that keeps good students studying until sometimes 8-9pm!! How can they relax and unwind
from their school day? It's not possible. I disagree with later start times. And the amount of homework they are
expected to accomplish each night. The problem in my opinion starts there.
There is nothing wrong with the start time. School has always started this early. If kids are tired or can't get up
then maybe the parents should be more responsible and make sure they go to bed at a decent time. We don't
need all kinds of studies, just bring back some common sense!
Later would be great. My son has baseball games that last until 8 PM. He has 30 mins at home before the game
so dinner and homework are done after, putting bed time at 10. He needs more sleep and should be able to play
ball. Thank you.
With all the studies showing that this is beneficial to students, this seems like an obvious choice for the district to
make.
This is total crap. It's been fine for all these years. Stupidest idea ever.
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I think it would take away from family time. As of right now with both parents working it's difficult after getting
home. I think it should be left the way it is. My student also gets on the bus early.
100% needs to happen
I'm Michael VanOrdens grandma and I think it a great idea for him to get that extra sleep time. Thank you.
I think a change would benefit some students but not all. As a parent of 2 students, more am sleep will help one
concentrate (a focused student to start) I don't believe a later start time will have an effect on my other child who
has difficulties concentrating. I don't think a later start time will have a negative impact either so in total a
positive. In order to maintain family time, homework, and after school activities late bus run would need to be
complete by 5:00-5:30.
The change of half hour would have a very different impact than would one hour or more and I would answer
survey very differently depending on how much later the start time is. How much later are you considering? If I
knew that my survey would be more useful. Is there any data on how a later start time effects truancy numbers?
Example; if parents have already left for work, a school avoidant student may not get on the bus. Again, knowing
how much later you are thinking would help the discussion a lot.
Takes away time that kids should be with their families. How many years has it been set this way? Why change it
now?
I attend the school and I would like to know what will happen to sports in the afternoons and the homework load
because right now I can barley have a social life with the amount of work I have to do at home on my own time.
It’s a good idea but what happens to the students who dont drive, have an after school job, that starts at around
2:30 to 3:00 usually and dont have a ride and depend on the bus? do they lose work hours for school or just take
away their working rights all together? its a tough problem but ya feel?
The only concern is that with a later start date that would mean the the district would have to move to whole day
back, cutting into precious time used for after school/extra curricular activities, as well as home work time for
some students.
This would not allow kids to get the time needed for sports or out door play on school days. Physical activity is
important. It's hard now with my kids getting home at 4, rushing homework then gone by 5 for sports events.
I graduated from Rondout. I always felt then that waking up at 6 am was awful. I remember being tired. Granted,
this will effect after school activities, but maybe kids in sports can come in early and do that in the morning. I have
seen a lot of complaints about time being lost in the afternoon, but I really don't think an hour will make that
much of a difference, especially knowing the schedules of pre-teens and teenagers. As for students who are
working, I am sure they could fit all their schooling into a five hour day if necessary and be let out early for work
release. It's an archaic practice to hold farming hours when you are trying to teach healthy, well rested brains.
I believe that if they did away with homework kids and teens could do their sports, band etc.. And also be able to
spend family time together, the kids would get to sleep at a reasonable time. My daughter comes home from
school and sits and does homework from the time she walks into the door, she will take a break to eat and shower
and then back to homework and gets to bed around 11 or 11:30 pm and gets up at 5:45 every school day, my
daughter has homework on weekends and holidays, what ever happened to family time? That is why the kids are
like they are, a lot of schools have done away with homework and found a big improvement in the academics.
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This is why kids and teens are sleep deprived. I have also talked to other parents and their kids are up very late
hours doing homework.
Rondout students/parents seem to strive for mediocrity in general. A late start may make students more
comfortable/less tired in the mornings, but I DOUBT it will change their grades. Our school has a cultural problem
that will not be fixed by tweaking the schedule.
School is supposed to benefit the kids. If research shows (and this research is not new) that a later start time will
benefit kids, how can you not?
Both parents work and the current schedule is fine for our student.
While my daughter will only be starting kindergarten in the fall as a registered nurse I completely agree with
allowing a later start for older children that have a proven different sleep need that is currently not being met.
Please. Just please.
How about we cut back on all the homework so the kids can have more time to play the sports they would like to
after school and spend time with their families. You change to a later start and end time how are they supposed
to do sports and their homework plus spend time with friends and family and still get the precious 8 hours sleep
you want them to have so bad???
This just makes it more difficult for the parents, you have to be considerate of the parents of 4th-6th graders etc.
that have a job, they'd then have to pay someone to watch them not just after school but also in the morning to
get them on the bus. The time change wouldn't hugely impact the students because a lot of students are tired due
to not going to sleep early enough, therefore being their fault.
Personally, I'd rather leave the school by 2:30 than a time any later than that, but it is a good idea. Students with
mental illnesses can get a mental break before school and studies show that the brain works better between 10
am to 2 pm.
I would also support later start time for elementary students.
With the amount of home work students have will starting the school day later really help - they'll be up doing
homework & if involved in athletic or other after school activities, they'll be up later than they are now.
Thank you for considering this. My kids would greatly benefit from sleeping in a little later. It would help our after
school family routine in a very positive way.
It is the parents’ responsibility to set a schedule for their children. If you set a bedtime and stick to it on a regular
basis there should be no reason why the child is not getting enough sleep. The fact that the school is blaming
sleep on children and teenagers acting out is ridiculous. Students and parents need to take responsibility and
proper boundaries need to be set in place.
The evidence based practice applied to education is forward thinking I can support.
I think it would be great.
It's not broken. Don't mess with it.
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In this survey the question that refers to picking any affected activities by the later start times isn't specific
enough in regards to the affected being positive or negative. That question should be asked twice. One in the
form of negative effects and one in the form of positive effects.
Both parents have to be at work by 7:30 so it would be up to our kids to be ready and out the door for the bus.
That makes me a little uncomfortable. I can anticipate an occasion of "forgetting" or "I fell back to sleep." I do
wonder about when they get their homework done before evening activities. Lastly, I get home around 4, my
husband around 5:30 so when they are home alone, food gets consumed, dishes go unwashed, electronics get
played more then we would allow if home with them. This is why I'm a "3".
The only issue I see would be if parents rely on older students caring for younger students after school. That is IF
the k-3 scheduled day ends before the 4-12 day. That would be a problem for many parents who need to work.
Also, the district does not have enough busses to do run all the routes at the same time or closer together. I
would be curious to see how this change would effect the bus routes/times. If more busses are required how will
that effect our taxes?
The science is in. Let's support our students in obtaining a healthy, productive school start time that is in synch
with optimizing learning and growth “academically, socially and personally” for their biological age.
Starting later has been proven in many other schools to be a great idea and children will be less likely to be late
and they will get more sleep!
Early start times appear to contradict with what the [American Academy of Pediatrics] is suggesting regarding
children and adolescents natural sleep cycles. The research is showing that those schools who have changed to a
later start time are reporting positive results, including increased participation in class, [improved] alertness,
higher academic performance and a reduction in discipline issues. What else do we need to know?
Our kids are half asleep every morning. They actually sleep in the car on the way to school. I see kids standing
outside at 640 in the morning. I don't see how receptive they can be to any type of curriculum that early in the
morning. By the time they get home from sports shower eat do there homework its 9PM and having to get up at
6AM is very tuff.
We are FULLY in support of a latter start time. Our daughters are way too tired and complain frequently about
how early school starts. In the winter months the early start time is especially difficult. we are in support of a half
hour or full hour later start time. thank you
Long time coming. Best thing for kids
I'm a sophomore more at the high school. Every morning i wake up at 6 am to get ready for school and catch the
bus at 7. I don't have time for breakfast and personally, 6 am is way to early. Especially for someone at 15. My day
goes on for about 16 hours. I get home at 6 from sports then do homework till 10. 8 hours of sleep just doesn't cut
it. So speaking for all students at the high school, please have later times. It would be beneficial to us and the
school. There would be a general increase in achievements academic wise for many students. It would most
certainly be worth it.
Not having an idea of what changes this would mean for the elementary schools makes it difficult to answer these
questions. Are older siblings needed at home to watch younger siblings after school if Elementary flipped starting
times. What would happen to sport starting times with daylight being necessary for many of them if school ended
later? How about setting game times with other schools on different schedules. Many unanswered questions.
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We have many students that do childcare/babysitting and this would create problems. Also, we have many high
school students that have after school jobs.
We are not disagreeing that students are chronically sleep-deprived. But this is most likely attributed to the
extensive use of computers/ipads/ipods and other devices used by students for social media and other reasons.
Parents need to pay more attention to their children, prepare nutritional meals for their kids, and provide a
comfortable and clean environment to get their homework done. Finally, at the end of the evening, it may be
necessary to take the electronic devices away and make sure they go to bed at reasonable bedtimes. It's that
simple.
As a student athlete with a part time job, I would not benefit from a later start time in any way. I would not have
time for both sports and a job, not to mention I would not have as much time to get my homework done.
although it would be nice for some students, you need to keep in mind that effects some more than others.
I think that this can have a worse toll on the children.
I am a student who wakes up in the morning almost completely unresponsive and groggy. personally, i am not the
best sleeper and sometimes have more hours of school than i have of sleep. now, i know that this would not
change school hours, but it would give me an opportunity to get more sleep. my lack of sleep sometimes makes
me very emotional, ready to cry, and creates problems at home, affecting my work and performance at school.
this change would work VERY well for me, because i have been disagreeing with this time since i knew i was
supposed to wake up in what feels like the middle of the night.
Please do not do this. And, if you are planning to change the times, please give more details about your plan for
the start/end times for elementary schools. It seems you are just focused on the older children.
It is clear from numerous bodies of research that early start times are destructive to student performance. It is
also interesting to read the research that shows no major impact on school budgets due to later start times. I
wholeheartedly endorse a later start time for all students, especially in Intermediate through High schools.
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