WELCOME

Miami-Dade County Public Schools is

exploring options for creating a bell schedule
that will both consider the health needs of all
students while improving transportation
efficiency across the District. Numerous
research studies have outlined the benefits
of shifting start times to better align with the
natural sleep cycle of teenagers. A new bell
schedule provides the unique opportunity to
redefine the school day to support the future
of learning.

Several factors play into the creation of a

district-wide bell schedule. The District is
committed to developing start time models
that maximize the use of buses and limit any
additional costs. Community input is an
important component of the evaluation
process.

Thank you in advance for your support and

feedback as we look for the best way to serve
our students.

WHY ADJUST
SCHOOL
START TIMES?
There is a significant body of research that
shows that adolescent brain functioning is
higher later in the morning. At puberty, kids’
body clocks shift, which makes it harder for
them to fall asleep until later at night (for
teens, closer to 11 p.m.) and leads to them
sleeping later in the morning. Waking a 16-
year-old at 6:30 a.m. is the equivalent of
waking a 40-year-old at 4:30 a.m. Moving
school start times to 8:30 a.m. or later has
been shown to be the single best way to
address adolescent sleep deprivation and its
associated health and public safety risks.
That’s why the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, American Academy of
Pediatrics, American Medical Association,
Society of Behavioral Medicine, American
Psychological Association, and others all
recommend this.

At school, too-early start times result in more

absences and tardies, lower test scores and
graduation rates, and even increased rates of
student-athlete injuries. Studies have shown
that when start times are moved later,
students with the lowest scores show the
biggest increases.

There is also a proven link between sleep

deprivation, school start times, and teen
hopelessness and suicidal ideation.
Adolescents who experience chronic sleep
deprivation because of early school start
times are likely to have decreased ability to
regulate negative emotions and moods.

As a result, Miami-Dade County Public

Schools is exploring adjusting school start
times to provide optimal conditions that will
support students’ physical, mental, and
emotional well-being and promote academic
achievement.

PROPOSED
BELL TIME
MODELS
For the past year, Miami-Dade County Public
Schools has identified feasible bell schedule
alternatives with the following priorities:

Better allow students to arrive to school

ready to learn based on
recommendations from
Cost-neutral impact on the District
Maintain the length of day for each
school type
Allows sufficient window of time for
buses to service multiple grade levels
Potential reinvestment of funds saved
from operational efficiencies to expand
transportation options to our high
demand programs

Both proposed bell alternatives were

developed with input from multiple
stakeholders including internal M-DCPS
departments, students, parents and school
leaders. Starting no classes prior to 8am
allows for students to minimize travel time in
the dark to school. Please note, the start
times for proposed models may shift in the
final recommendation.

Additional models will be considered as we

continue to receive feedback from multiple
stakeholders.

CURRENT BELL
SCHEDULE
Grade Level Start End Early
Release
(Wed)

Senior 7:20 AM 2:20 PM

Elementary/K- 8:20 AM 1:50 PM

8
Grades PK-1st

Elementary/K- 8:35 AM 3:05 PM 1:50 PM

8
Grades 2-8

Middle 9:10 AM 3:50 PM

PROPOSED MODEL 1
Grade Level Start End Early
Release
(Wed)

Elementary/K- 8:00 AM 1:30 PM

8
Grades PK-1st

Elementary/K- 8:00 AM 2:30 PM 1:30 PM

8
Grades 2-8

Middle 8:30 AM 3:10 PM

Senior 9:30 AM 4:30 PM

PROPOSED MODEL 2
Grade Level Start End Early
Release
(Wed)

Elementary/K- 8:00 AM 1:30 PM

8
Grades PK-1st

Elementary/K- 8:00 AM 2:30 PM 1:30 PM

8
Grades 2-8

Senior 8:30 AM 3:30 PM

Middle 9:30 AM 4:10 PM

SURVEY
Provide Feedback via our
Community Survey:
Survey to launch January
2020

LEARN MORE
Twitter Town Hall

Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 4-5pm

EST
Join the conversation by tweeting
questions or comments to @MDCPS
using #MDCPSBellTimes

Town Hall Meetings

Monday, January 13 at 6:30 – 8:00 PM

EST
Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High
School - 1410 NE 215 Street, Miami,
Florida 33179
Tuesday, January 21 at 6:30 – 8:00 PM
EST
Robert Morgan Educational Center -
18180 SW 122 Avenue, Miami, Florida
33177
Tuesday, January 28 at 6:30 – 8:00 PM
EST
Miami Jackson Senior High School -
1751 NW 36 Street, Miami, Florida
33142

FAQs
1. How will adjusted start times
affect parents?

2. How will adjusted school start

times impact school building
hours and teacher work
schedules?

3. How will an adjusted school

schedule affect traffic?

4. What is the impact to

participation in athletic
programs?

5. What will happen to before and

after-school care programs that
are currently offered?

6. Will adjusted start times have

any impact on breakfast in
schools?

RESEARCH
Public health officials and the medical
community at large have declared that a
public health crisis of epidemic proportions is
affecting adolescents. Most adolescents do
not get enough sleep, leading to a host of
mental, behavioral, and physical effects, as
well as public safety concerns.
Refer to the research below:

School Starts Too Early – Center for

Disease Control.
AAP Recommends Delaying Start Times
of Middle and High Schools to Combat
Teen Sleep Deprivation.
Start Middle and High Schools at 8:30
a.m. or Later to Promote Student Health
and Learning - Society of Behavioral
Medicine.

CONTACT
Please send comments and suggestions to
belltimes@dadeschools.net.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools

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