House passes bill to move public school start times

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – The Florida House passed a bill Friday to require middle schools to have a start time no earlier than 8:00 a.m., and for high school, no earlier than 8:30 a.m, starting July 1, 2026.

The bill was carried by John Paul Temple, R-The Villages, and a similar bill was carried by Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, in the Senate.

The bill passed 92-20 in the House but still needs final approval from the Senate.

“The science clearly shows that if students in middle school and high school get more sleep, that has a positive impact not only on academics, their mental health, it’s safer,” Temple said.

It also states that districts and charters will discuss the health, safety and academic impacts of sleep deprivation, and the benefits of later start times for our students. They will also discuss the strategies that successfully implementing this will have a positive impact on our students.

Currently, for Florida public schools, on average, high schools begin at 7:47 a.m., elementary schools begin at 8:14 a.m., and middle schools begin at 9:06 a.m.

On average, charter high schools begin at 7:44 a.m., charter elementary schools begin at 8:08 a.m., and charter middle schools begin at 8:09 a.m.

There may be a fiscal impact on school districts to comply with the required start times for middle schools and high schools if they need additional school buses.

The implementation of the new start times for middle and high schools is required by July 1, 2026, and therefore the potential fiscal impact is indeterminate, according to the bill’s analysis.

In debate, Rep. Bruce Antone, D-Orlando, opposed the bill and said it would have an impact that “maybe no one has thought about.”

“My district will have to spend $30 million purchasing new school buses to make the adjustment for the start times prescribed or mandated by this bill. They’ll have to hire an additional 150 new bus drivers, we’re already 100 bus drivers short right now,” Antone said.

Temple said there is money thats being provided to add to transportation.

“It will help, but until they have a plan in place, specifically to Orange County, it’s been brought up, I’ve asked to see what their plan is and why it’s going to cost that additional money, I haven’t seen that yet,” Temple said.

Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota, supported the bill in debate.

“We have an opportunity to make a big and bold and yes, difficult change, to improve the learning, the physical health, the mental health of our students, so let’s do something hard,” McFarland said.

“If our districts need a little bit of help over the next three years as we implement it, let’s be leaders again and help them, but let’s do something hard today and vote in support of this bill,” McFarland said.

“Is it going to be easy? No. Change never is. It’s hard. But again, we will do our job and provide the resources and help necessary to the districts that are having trouble if they’re willing partners and working with us as well,” Temple said.