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Background

A recent high school survey confirmed what most parents already know about their sleep-deprived teenagers. The students reported, on average, that they had received 6.5 hours of sleep -- more than two hours less sleep than recommended by the National Sleep Foundation.  Sleep deprivation of that magnitude can have serious health and safety consequences, not to mention the fact that it can make it harder for students to learn efficiently. 

Some modification of school scheduling is needed to address the sleep deprivation problem.   However, radical schedule changes are extremely difficult because of economic and institutional obstacles.  A flexible schedule approach, on the other hand, is a realistic solution which offers the potential to reduce class size as well as reduce scheduling conflicts and increase options. 

What is a Flex Schedule?

The basic idea of a Flex Schedule strategy is to give some students the option of starting school one period later and staying one period later, while other students stay on the original schedule. The school day is normally 7 periods. The simplest flex schedule model extends that to 8 periods. Students and teachers who start in the first period finish in the seventh period.  Students and teachers who start in the second period finish in the eighth period. 

What advantages does it offer?

The Flex Schedule approach has many advantages over other schedule options that have been proposed in the past, including: 

           ·   Schedule Choice:  It provides extra sleep to students who need it without forcing a change on students and families who prefer the current schedule.

           ·   Low Cost:  It has no significant transportation or operating costs 
   associated with it since it does not require new buses or drivers.

           ·   Positive Teacher Impact: It benefits teachers who prefer a later start 
  without penalizing those who prefer the current schedule.

           ·   Extracurricular Compatible:  It need not disrupt sports or other after 
   school activities.

           ·   Flexibility:  It can be tailored to the unique characteristics of specific schools and it can address specific needs of individual students and families.

           ·   Smaller Class Size:  It can be a very cost-efficient way to reduce class size.

Any disadvantages?

The primary disadvantage of the Flex Schedule proposal is that, at least in the beginning, it may be too small to help all of the students who could benefit from more sleep.  It adds another consideration that must be taken into account in designing each student’s schedule.  Also, Flex students who usually would ride a school bus will need to use student passes on public transportation or make individual arrangements.  Lastly, it will make the scheduling of faculty meetings more difficult.

How many students could go on the later schedule?

The answer depends initially on the number of teachers available to teach the later schedule.  Some teachers would prefer a late start and late finish, while some have long commutes or other reasons to prefer the early shift.  Initially, the late shift group may be relatively small, but it is expected to grow as advantages of the late shift become evident. 

How does a school decide which students get to be on the late shift?

Prior to the start of each semester, the school would determine which classes could be offered on the late shift. Students eligible to take those classes could provide a first and second schedule choice.  The school would allow all students who wanted to start in the first period to start then.  It could schedule as many students as the teaching resources allow to start in the second period.  If demand for the second shift is greater than the available spaces, the school could use a seniority and/or lottery system to allocate spaces fairly, although students with medical needs or other special requirements  would probably get priority consideration.  Those students who don't get their first choice in the first semester might get priority status in the second semester or the following year. 

How would the bus system be affected?

Because the school bus system is severely stretched and likely to become more stretched as enrollment increases, the Flex Schedule approach assumes that no school buses would be available for students who start in the second period, at least in the start-up phase. There should be no limit to the number of students who may start first period because some students need to use the buses.  Over time, it may be possible to move some buses to serve the second shift without increasing bus costs.

How will after school activities be affected?

Sports and other after-school activities need not be changed to accommodate the Flex Schedule, although second shift students may not be able to participate in some activities that start immediately after the end of the seventh period.  Eventually, it is expected that more and more activities will start after eighth period with students who finish early using the time for homework and tutoring, or community service activities in designated and beneficial settings.

How does a flex schedule fit with other MCPS priorities?

MCPS is bursting at the seams.  Burgeoning enrollment is evident in bulging class sizes and the unsightly and mushrooming growth of portable classrooms on school property.  Extending the school day through a Flex Schedule offers a financially attractive way to accommodate these enrollment problems.  If the school system were to provide additional funds to permit part-time teachers to work more hours and full-time teachers to work overtime if they wish it, then teachers (or a sub-group of them) could start in first period and finish in eighth period. The gain is that the extra teaching resources would allow a reduction in class size -- about 12% if students are evenly divided between the two schedules. The addition of a ninth period could provide a 22% class size reduction, and perhaps save significant construction expenses by utilizing existing facilities more efficiently. 
 

Parents, students, teachers and other school staff concerned about the problem of sleep deprivation among high school and middle school students are encouraged to join WAKE UP!, an organization working for later school starting times in Montgomery County.  To join,  click here