LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Clark County School District is considering a major shift in when students start their day, and new survey results released Thursday night offer a look at how families, students, and staff feel about the potential changes.
CCSD’s Board of School Trustees reviewed the data during its meeting, where district officials outlined several bell-schedule options — including one cost-neutral plan that would push all start times back by 30 minutes beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
Survey Results Presented at Board Meeting
District leaders say a growing body of research supports later start times for adolescents, linking additional morning sleep to improvements in alertness, attendance, grades, and mental health.
The community survey, conducted in September, gathered feedback from parents, students, educators, and support staff across the district.
One of the district’s leading proposals — Option A — would shift every level back by 30 minutes, a change CCSD says can be done without increasing transportation costs.
What Option A Would Look Like
- High school: 7:30 a.m.
- Middle school: 8:30 a.m.
- Elementary: 9:30 a.m.
Because bus routes would not change too much, CCSD labels this plan “cost-neutral.”
Student Support Strongest Among High Schoolers
High school students were the most supportive group, with nearly 62% strongly agreeing that their day should start later.
Concerns From Families and Staff
While many respondents acknowledged the benefits of later start times, the survey also revealed concerns about how the change could affect day-to-day routines:
- Parent work schedules and morning drop-offs
- After-school sports and club practices running later into the evening
- Reduced work hours for high-school students with after-school jobs
District officials emphasized that these factors will play a major role in the final decision.
More Expensive Alternatives Under Review
Other proposals — including Option B and two additional “Tier” models — would push high schools even later in the morning but come with significant costs due to major bus system adjustments.
Option B Includes:
- High school: 8:30 a.m.
- Elementary: 9:15 a.m.
- Middle school: 7:30 a.m.
CCSD estimates over $17 million in one-time costs and $5.8 million in yearly expenses to implement the additional routing and staffing changes required for option B.
The district says Tiers D and E would also cost millions.
- Option C (Tier Inversion – HS/MS with ES Exceptions): Middle School 7:30 a.m., High School/Elementary School 8:30 a.m., Elementary School 9:15 a.m.
- One-Time Cost: $17,368,400.00
- Annual Cost: $5,850,500.00
- Option D (Tier Inversion – HS/MS, ES at 9:30 a.m.): Middle School 7:30 a.m., High School 8:30 a.m., Elementary School 9:30 a.m.
- One-Time Cost: $13,026,300.00
- Annual Cost: $4,374,000.00
- Option E (Tier Inversion – ES/MS/HS): Elementary School 7:00 a.m., Middle School 8:00 a.m., High School 9:00 a.m.
- One-Time Cost: $16,100,000.00
- Annual Cost: $4,900,000.00
What Comes Next
Trustees are reviewing the findings and providing feedback before the district selects a final plan.
If any of the proposals are approved, changes would go into effect in the 2026–2027 school year, giving families, staff, and transportation teams time to prepare.
The CCSD Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jesse Welsh says a decision is not being made at the board meeting on Thursday. He says the district does not lean towards one option or another. When asked about where the funding would come from if a costly option was chosen, he did not give many details.
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