Seattle Public Schools is conducting an online survey to determine whether to change school start times beginning in the fall. Parents of high school students have been pushing for a later start time, citing research showing teens need to sleep later.
There are three different surveys in 10 different languages: for parents of current students, for community members whether they have had children in public schools or not, and for school staff.
A change in the start and end times for a school day has the potential to affect the entire community and it is important that the district hear from our diverse community including parents, students, staff and community members on the potential positive and negative impacts of such a decision. To focus this conversation this spring, three options are being explored: 1) no change to current bell times, 2) moving secondary schools to later start times and elementary schools to earlier start times, and 3) expanding the high school day to allow a choice for students.
To support the capture of this vital feedback from the District community, the Bell Time Online Survey will be available starting April 28. The survey will be available online in ten languages and will remain open until May 10. The survey has three primary audiences – Parents, Community Members and Staff. In addition, for those families without reliable internet access, the survey will be available on paper at each of the 26 neighborhood Community Centers managed by Seattle Parks and Recreation.
Take the Bell Time Online Survey here!
For more information on the Bell Time Analysis, visit belltimes.www.seattleschools.org
We encourage everyone, whether you are a parent of a current Seattle Public Schools student, will soon be enrolling your child in the District, or are a community member interested in the topic, to take the survey and contribute to this important discussion. The data collected from these surveys will be invaluable in determining the potential impacts a change could have on the community.
