Florida lawmakers are moving to give local school districts the flexibility to opt out of a state law requiring later school start times, with a new bill (SB 296)that would reverse the 2023 mandate.

That law had required middle schools to begin classes after 8 a.m. and high schools after 8:30 a.m. But some parents have pushed back, arguing that later start times just lead to later bedtimes and don’t necessarily improve student sleep.

“I think that kids are just going to stay up later,” parent Norma Tutt told WFLA. “If they’re staying up late already and not getting enough sleep, pushing the start time later is only going to give them more time to stay awake.”

Others worry about the effect on sports and extracurriculars.

“My daughter played golf, which is a fall sport. It gets dark around 5 or 5:30,” said mother Tenesia Campbell. “If school ends at 3:30, how much time do they really have to practice? You can’t see the ball in the dark.”

Under the proposed reversal, school districts could apply for exemptions by submitting reports to the Florida Department of Education outlining how delayed start times could negatively affect students. Those reports would be due by June 2026.

The bill now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis. If signed into law, the changes would take effect in July 2025.

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(Image credit: The Floridian)

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