Board Retains Current Start And Dismissal Times Model for 2018-2019 School Year

December 20th, 2017

The Howard County Board of Education voted to retain the existing model for school start and dismissal times for the 2018–2019 academic year during its regularly scheduled meeting on December 19, 2017.

In choosing to maintain the current model, the Board considered four alternative models for modified start and dismissal times, and weighed multiple factors, including budgetary impact, implementation challenges, public feedback, research on the impact on student well-being and achievement, and the impact of schedule changes to before- and after-school activities, athletics and childcare. All four of the alternative models would have required the use of more school buses, adding costs to the school system budget ranging from $6.2 million to $9.1 million per year.

The December 19 Board action concludes an extensive study and analysis process begun in 2013. In making its decision, the Board also voted to rescind its February 23, 2017, action to implement changes to start and dismissal times for the 2018–2019 school year.

The School Start and Dismissal Time Report presented at the December 19 Board meeting, which includes a comparison of the four alternative models, is posted online.