Seattle Public Schools proposes new start times

Under a new proposal, class start times for Seattle Public Schools (SPS) would be altered beginning in September 2022.

As part of this proposal, most elementary and high school students would start their day a half hour earlier, while K-through-8 and middle schoolers would go to class later in the day.

Individual schools would be assigned to a specific tier group.

As part of the proposal:

Tier 1 - Starts at 7:30 a.m.

Tier 2 - Starts at 8:30 a.m.

Tier 3 - Starts at 9:30 a.m.

At Ballard High School, KIRO 7 found mixed reaction to the proposal.

Some students said they worried that they would no longer be on the same schedule as their siblings and friends.

“With this, (my friends) are gonna start really late, and I’m gonna start earlier, so it’s just gonna mess everything up,” said Lachlan Ransiea, a sophomore at Ballard High School.

By switching to a three-tiered class schedule, SPS said it would be able to save 50 school bus routes that would otherwise be cut.

As a result—KIRO 7 found that some parents and students are bracing themselves for the change.

“I have to come home later, and I want to come home earlier,” said student Clementine Cobain.

SPS is expected to decide on the proposal May 18th.

The district is holding a ZOOM information session on the changes at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3.

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