Florida senators are considering a bill to repeal requirements for later school start times at high schools, which were approved in 2023 but have faced challenges in implementation. The bill, sponsored by Jennifer Bradley, seeks to eliminate the mandate that high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. and middle schools no earlier than 8 a.m. School districts have expressed concerns about the financial and logistical challenges of meeting these requirements, including the need to purchase buses and hire drivers. Statewide organizations representing superintendents and school boards have voiced support for the bill. However, some lawmakers, like Sen. Lori Berman, who initially supported the 2023 law, have acknowledged that it may not be feasible for some districts to comply. Sen. Don Gaetz was the only dissenting vote in the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee that approved the bill (SB 296) with a 5-1 majority. The bill would allow school districts to consider the benefits of later start times while giving them the flexibility to set their schedules. A similar bill has been filed in the House by Rep. Anne Gerwig. The issue will be part of the agenda for the upcoming legislative session, starting on Tuesday.
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