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CS/CS/SB 296 — Middle School and High School Start Times
by Fiscal Policy Committee; Education Pre-K – 12 Committee; and Senators Bradley, Yarborough, and Davis
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Education Pre-K - 12 Committee (ED)
The bill provides an exemption for a district school board or a charter school governing board from the statutory requirement that by July 1, 2026, the instructional day at all district and charter middle schools may not start before 8 a.m. and high schools may not start before 8:30 a.m. Rather than implementing the statutorily prescribed start times, the bill allows such boards to submit a report to the Department of Education by June 1, 2026, that includes information related to current school start times, documentation of strategies that were considered to implement prescribed start times, and the impacts and unintended consequences of implementing the prescribed start times.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2025.
Vote: Senate 38-0; House 116-0