WelcomeHigh School Bell Times Work Group

WelcomeHigh School Bell Times Work Group

John MatthewsProject Manager

Retired DirectorDepartment of Transportation

Mr. Larry BowersChief Operating Officer

Initiative Manager

High School Bell Times Work Group Charge Statement

The work group will review current research and previous reports and conduct an analysis of the impact of school start times on high school students in order to develop options for high school bell times. Work will include analysis of past efforts, analysis of similar efforts in other jurisdictions, input from stakeholders, and scientific data from sleep experts/studies. The work group will report on findings and options.

Project Scope

• In scope: Consider all available data on teenage sleep needs, available experiential data, cost data, and comparable school system efforts.

• Out-of-scope: Limiters such as funding, contract changes, or other tasks needed to implement options.

Goals of This Meeting

• Gain historical knowledge of bell times in Montgomery County

• Provide introduction to teenage sleep issues• Introduce materials, notebook, CD, share

folder• Review bell schedules: current and models• Begin the thought process

History 11993: First Concerted Effort on Bell Times– For $800k savings at the expense of sleep

• Standardized school day by level• Began most high schools earlier

– Most 15–20 minutes earlier– One 25, one 30, one 50 minutes earlier (one 5 min. later)

Standardized Bell Times First Established*High 7:25 a.m.–2:10 p.m. Middle 7:55 a.m.–2:40 p.m.

Elementary 1 8:50 a.m.–3:05 p.m.Elementary 2 9:15 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Look Familiar?*a change to increase the length of the elementary school day occurred between 1993 and 1995

History 2

• 1995: Alternative Recommendations – Dr. Vance recommends fresh look at:• Length of School Day (MCPS was among shortest in the

state)• Eliminate Half-Days• Shorten Summer Break /Lengthen Winter Break• Extend School Year• Offer Remedial Enrichment Courses During Breaks• Offer More Summer School Opportunities• Offer Year-Round Education (on a voluntary basis)

History 3

• 1996: MCPS Conducts Survey– Parent and Staff Perceptions Regarding School

Calendar– 1,290 Parents surveyed (by phone)• Length of School Day—72% just right, 23% too short• Who Starts First—70% high school and maintain order• Goes on with holidays and breaks, etc.• Also included 1,200 school-based staff

Surveys Revealed• Favorite time for staff• Favorite time for parents• Preferred order of school day HSMSES• When given the option to adjust—– Middle and high would go a little later– Elementary would go a little earlier– All would go between 8:00–8:30 a.m.

History 4

• 1997: Studies emerge on the harmful effects of sleep deprivation on teenagers from: –Brown University– Stanford University–University of California

Studies Revealed

• Inability to change sleep desire/patterns• 13–25 year olds need 9.25 hours of sleep• Onset of sleepiness occurs around 11:00 p.m.• Naturally resist sleep before 11:00 p.m.• Cannot artificially change circadian rhythm

Benefit Claims

• Improved academic performance• Reduced irritability• Improved decision-making• Reduced incidences of depression• Reduced incidences of traffic accidents• Improved health and quality of life• Other Social benefits– Reduced teen pregnancy– Reduced after-school teen crime

History 5

• October 27, 1997: Board directs analysis of bell schedules “In light of the research on teenage sleep deprivation.”

• Edina, MN National Example Leads the Way– Findings in 1998 Report

History 6• January 1998: Report of the Bell Times Work Group• Most Comprehensive—a “Must Read”• Report from University of Minnesota

– Review of the research– Benefits of later start times– Good weekend sleep habits help

• Performance Data: Non-Existent• Hopeful that body of research will become available in the next few

years• 15 options presented with cost estimates• Attachment B has before/after 1993 time standardization MCPS

performance data—inconclusive

History 7• October 1998: Bell Times Study Group – Report to the superintendent of schools on the following:

• Effects on student achievement• Impact on community at large• Provide analysis of budgetary impact

– Three scenarios were used:• Delay high school start time 50 minutes (8:15–3:00--$9.1M) #2-

3• Split high school start times—7:25 or 9:15 ($131K for 7k kids) #1• Reverse high school/middle school starts, delay all 15 minutes

($1.89M) #2-3

– 4th option added: status quo (least preferred) #4

History 8

• November 1998– Board adopts recommendation to seek one or

more high schools to implement a split schedule• April 1999: Memorandum to the Board– Report of Bell Times Implementation Work Group– Extensive added resources were included for any

school adopting split schedule– All 23 high schools are not interested– Executive Board of MCCPTA does not support

History 9

• March 1999– Board requests additional review with options to:

• Eliminate high school buses and use public transit• Reexamine all previous and least expensive options

• November 1999– Superintendent cannot support change based on:

• Absence of evidence demonstrating improved performance

• Cost of some of the options considered• Disruption to schools, students, families, and community

Binders and Materials• Binders– Charge statement– Brief history of MCPS bell time activities– Articles 1998–Present – Community Input

• Town Hall Meeting with Dr. Starr• Excerpts from Share Folder• Findings from Year-round Use Report (March 8, 1995

memorandum)• Excerpts from the Westat Survey (November 12, 1996

memorandum)

Availability FormMCPS email application

Articles

Washington Post November 1998Board Decides to Pilot Split Schedule

Post MagazineFebruary 2001

Around the Area

• Loudon now: All high schools 9:00 a.m.–3:48 p.m.

• Arlington: Switched middle school and high school and delayed

• Fairfax: RFP for vendor implementation• Anne Arundel: studying the issue• Frederick: discussing options

Current Bell StructureHigh 7:25 a.m.–2:10 p.m. 6 hours, 45 minutes

30 minutes a.m. 30 minutes p.m.Middle 7:55 a.m.– 2:40 p.m. 6 hours, 45 minutes

55 minutes a.m. 25 minutes p.m.Elementary 1 8:50 a.m.– 3:05 p.m. 6 hours, 15 minutes

25 minutes a.m. 25 minutes p.m.Elementary 2 9:15 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 6 hours, 15 minutes

a.m. window: 1 hour, 50 minutesp.m. window: 1 hour, 20 minutes(Total daily window of operation: 3 hours, 10 minutes)Note: Each regular education school bus serves an average of 3.2 schools a.m. and p.m.

Challenge of SwitchingRetain Starting Times, Reverse Order

Elementary 1 7:25 a.m.–1:40 p.m. 6 hours, 15 minutes25 minutes a.m. 25 minutes p.m.

Elementary 2 7:50 a.m.–2:05 p.m. 6 hours, 15 minutes55 minutes a.m. * 85 minutes p.m.

High or Middle 8:45 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 6 hours, 45 minutes30 minutes a.m. 30 minutes p.m.

High or Middle 9:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m. 6 hours, 45 minutes

a.m. window: 1 hour, 50 minutes (unchanged)p.m. window: 2 hours, 20 minutes (60 minutes additional)Total Daily Window of operation 4 hours, 10 minutes; (60 minutes additional)*Reducing this gap to 30 minutes would reduce a.m. window to 1 hour, 25 minutes; p.m. window to 1 hour, 55 minutes (Total daily window of operation 3 hours, 20 minutes; 10 minutes additional )

Challenge of SwitchingAdjust Starting Times, Reverse Order

Elementary 1 7:50 a.m.–2:05 p.m. 6 hours, 15 minutes25 minutes a.m. 25 minutes p.m.

Elementary 2 8:15 a.m.–2:30 p.m. 6 hours, 15 minutes30 minutes a.m.* 60 minutes p.m.

High or Middle 8:45 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 6 hours, 45 minutes30 minutes a.m. 30 minutes p.m.

High or Middle 9:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m. 6 hours, 45 minutes

*Gap reduced to 30 minutesa.m. window: 1 hour, 25 minutes (25 minutes shorter)p.m. window: 1 hours, 55 minutes (35 minutes longer)(Total daily window of operation 3 hours, 20 minutes; 10 minutes additional)

The Cost Element10 minutes = .167 hours

Cost for Adding .167 of an Hour a Day to Bus Routes

Bus Operators

Number of Routes 1,111 AAverage Bus Operator Hourly Rate 21.15 BIncreased Route Time (10/60) 0.167 C 10 minutes / 60 minutesAdditional Salary - 1 Day 3,916 D A * B * C# of Pay Days 199 EAdditional Salary - Annual 779,339 F D * EFringe w/o Health 0.1397 GFringe w/o Health Cost 108,874 H F * GTotal Cost for Bus Operators 888,213 I F + H

Bus Attendants

Number of Bus Attendants on Routes 485 JAverage Bus Attendant Hourly Rate 17.81 KIncreased Route Time (10/60) 0.167 L 10 minutes / 60 minutesAdditional Salary - 1 Day 1,440 M J * K * L# of Pay Days 199 NAdditional Salary - Annual 286,489 O M * NFringe w/o Health 0.1397 PFringe w/o Health Cost 40,022 Q O * PTotal Cost for Bus Attendants 326,511 R O + Q

Salary Cost - Bus Operators & Attendants 1,065,827 F + OFringe Cost - Bus Operators & Attendants 148,896 H + Q

Total Cost - Bus Operators & Attendants

$1,214,723 I + R

Stakeholder Concerns

• Impact to after-school activities– Sports– Jobs—financial support for some families– Day care

• Balancing the needs of high school students on middle and elementary students

• Cost vs. Performance Gains

Answers

• Complex• Involves many stakeholder groups/interests• Likely to have budgetary impact• But, what could we get for our money?• Creative solutions are encouraged

Clear Difference This Time

• Obviously not the first time this has been discussed.

• The clear differences in what we should be doing.– Examine the performance data from other places.– Examine how they achieved their change in bell

schedules, political implications, and roll-out.– Examine the costs versus the gains in measured

quantities.– Overcoming the paradigms and myths about sleep.

Scientific Data Needed

• 10–15 years have passed• What are the real performance outcomes?• What is the impact of:

– 15 minute change?– 30 minute change?– 60+ minute change?

• What is the optimal bedtime and duration?• Other Scientific Data• Since 1996, have opinions/acceptance changed?

– Possibly…with heightened awareness of the importance of sleep.

Ground Rules• Timeliness:

– Be on time so we can end on time.– Share discussion time with others.– Be prepared.

• Respect all ideas and opinions.• Everyone participates.

• Be considerate regarding interruptions (sidebar discussion, cell phones, etc.).

• Confidentiality:– Discussions to remain within the group– Important to allow open and honest discussion

• Have Fun!

• Others Needed—Any you cannot live with??

Member Responsibilities

• Represent their interest group• Arrange interactions with interest group

members• Consider impact of options: desired and

undesired consequences• Strive to find best balance across all

stakeholder groups

Activities

• We will go through the process together• We will investigate a host of other systems• We may travel to talk with other administrators,

perhaps Loudon County• We will meet with stakeholder groups (with your

help)• We may wish to do a stakeholder survey• We will develop best options for presentation• Other activities

Schedule of Meetings

• Next Meeting– Come prepared with questions about sleep.

• Reading Materials for Discussion– Share folder e-mails– CD: previous studies– Binders

Final Questions/Comments

• Future meeting dates to be determined– Please complete forms in jacket.– Non-MCPS e-mail holders—complete forms

• Discussion• Meeting pluses/minuses