This bill amends sections 1001.42 and 1002.33 of the Florida Statutes to establish new requirements regarding the start times for middle and high schools. Specifically, it mandates that by July 1, 2026, middle schools cannot start earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools cannot start earlier than 8:30 a.m. To ensure compliance, district school boards must submit a report to the Department of Education by June 1, 2026, detailing their school start times, strategies for implementing the new start times, the impact of these changes, and any unintended consequences. The bill emphasizes the importance of community engagement in discussing the health and academic benefits of later start times.

Additionally, the bill modifies the compliance requirements for charter schools, stating that they must adhere to the same start time regulations unless they have submitted the required report to the Department of Education. This inclusion aims to ensure that charter schools are held to the same standards as district schools regarding start times. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 296 Filed: 1001.42, 1002.33
S 296 c1: 1001.42
S 296 c2: 1001.42, 1002.33