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 current start times, strategies considered for implementing the later start times, the financial impact of these changes, and any unintended consequences that may arise from the implementation.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that charter schools must comply with the same start time requirements unless they have submitted the required report to the Department of Education. This provision aims to ensure that all schools, including charter schools, adhere to the new regulations regarding school start times, promoting better health and academic outcomes for students. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 261 Filed: 1001.42
H 261 c1: 1001.42, 1002.33