Florida's senators vote for the abolition of school time amendment law

The legislators in Florida voted on Monday for the abolition of a law over 2023, which was later necessary for students of the middle and upper level.

Bill 296 Senate in Florida eliminates the state -prescribed start times. The Law of 2023 did not start earlier than 8:30 a.m. and the middle schools did not start earlier than 8 a.m.

The committee for educational committees of the Senate approved the draft law with a 6-1 vote. The Republican Senator Don Gaetz was the lonely opposite coordination.

Gaetz previously served as a superintendent of Okaloosa County schools before entering the Senate in Florida.

Although the law is to take place in 2026, government officials said that school districts have difficulty preparing. Republican Senator Jennifer Bradley, the sponsor of the Bills, said she spoke to 19 school authorities who expressed concerns about the challenges with the time change.

“School districts across the state started analyzing the effects of these necessary start times for the school year 2026, and the feedback is overwhelming, ”said Bradley. “A state mandate in relation to school start times would be financially and in other ways.”

The problems that were drawn to the attention of the senator included more bus drivers and the effects on programs after school. She added that older students who later leave school could be confronted with consequences for their future, including a loss of scholarships.

Bradley also said that the transition to a new start time influences the work plans of the parents. Since some families rely on older children to take care of their siblings, the Senator warned that younger children could be at risk.

“Our younger students, some already six years old, were able to wait 6 a.m. at a bus stop in the dark to pick up security concerns,” said Bradley.

Studies have shown that the later school start times benefit the students positively. A study carried out by the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that students with later school start times had a better number of visitors who had improved grades and slept less in class.

Democratic Senator Rosalind Osgood said that she was initially for the law of 2023. However, she now believes that earlier early days are preparing children for adulthood.

“I was in favor of getting more sleep, but then I thought about it,” said Osgood. “I was no longer allowed to sleep, so we have to prepare our children for the real world.”

The Republican representative Anne Gerwig introduced a similar invoice in the Florida House. The legislative template is currently waiting for the review of the sub -committee for education administration.