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Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the new start/dismissal times?
Drop-off Window
School Start Time
Start of Dismissal
High School
7:40-7:55 a.m.
8:00 a.m.
2:45 p.m.
Elementary
8:20-8:30 a.m.
8:35 a.m.
3:05 p.m.
Middle School
8:40-8:50 a.m.
8:55 a.m.
3:35 p.m.
AM Kindergarten
8:20-8:30 a.m.
8:35 a.m.
11:15 a.m.
PM Kindergarten
12:10-12:20 p.m.
12:25 p.m.
3:05 p.m.
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When will the new start/dismissal times take effect?
The new times for all Upper St. Clair schools will begin this upcoming 2023-24 school year. The first day of school for students in grades 1-12 is Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. Kindergarten students will have a scheduled orientation appointment on Aug. 23 or Aug 24, with their first day of school on Friday, Aug. 25.
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Why are the school times changing?
Research shows that later school start times can help children/adolescents get enough sleep in order to improve their health, academic performance and quality of life. Studies have made a correlation between later school start times and improved attendance and graduation rates as well as academic achievement.
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American Academy of Pediatrics (2014). Adolescent Sleep Working Group; Committee on Adolescence; Council on School Health. School start times for adolescents. Pediatrics. 134: 642–9.
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American Medical Association, American Academy of Sleep Medicine. (2010) Resolution 503: Insufficient Sleep in Adolescents. Chicago, IL: American Medical Association, American Academy of Sleep Medicine [Google Scholar]
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Owens, J.A. (2013) Delaying School Start Times and the Health of Adolescents. Children’s National Medical Center. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedfiles/info/belltimesworkgroup/feb112013meeting-presentation.pdf
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Wheaton, A.G., Chapman, D.P., Croft, J.B. (2016). School Start Times, Sleep, Behavioral, Health, and Academic Outcomes: a Review of the Literature.J Sch Health. 86(5):363-381. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/38887
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Wheaton, A.G., Ferro, G.A., and Croft, J.B. (2015). School Start Times for Middle School and High School Students — United States, 2011–12 School Year. Weekly. 64(30); 809-813. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6430a1.htm
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Is this a new initiative?
Discussion of adjusting Upper St. Clair’s school start times dates back at least three decades and has been a topic of discussion/research within most of the district’s strategic plans since then, including the 2015 Strategic Plan.
Pennsylvania’s Joint State Government Commission appointed an Advisory Committee to study the “issues, benefits and options related to instituting a later start time to the school day at secondary schools in the Commonwealth.” The Advisory Committee presented its findings in October 2019; however, progress was halted by the pandemic.“The Advisory Committee’s most salient recommendation is that Pennsylvania’s school districts should consider studying the advisability of changing their secondary school start times to improve the health and welfare of their students.”
The Advisory Committee’s full report is available online: http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/resources/documents/ftp/publications/2019-10-17%20SSSTweb.PDF
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Why aren’t more school districts starting school later?
School districts across Pennsylvania have cited two major impediments – athletics/after school activities and transportation.
School District of Philadelphia(Article): “Our initial plan for the 2022-2023 school year was for all 56 District high schools and middle/high schools to shift to a 9 a.m. bell schedule,” Superintendent William Hite wrote in a Wednesday letter to students, parents, and staff. “However, like school districts across the country, we continue to wrestle with ongoing bus driver shortages, and are unable to equitably support the shift for all 56 schools.”
North Allegheny (Article): At the February 20, 2019, School Board Work Session, North Allegheny announced that due to the national bus driver shortage the District will not move forward with adjusting school start times for the 2019-2020 school year.
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What changes are being made to instructional time to accommodate the new start/end times?
The change in start times will not result in a decrease in instructional time for students.
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Since all times appear to shift 30 minutes, will the bus pickup & return times also be 30 minutes later?
Bus times will be approximately 30 minutes later in the morning, but not in the afternoon. In the afternoon, high school and elementary routes will begin 25 minutes later and middle school routes will begin 20 minutes later than they currently run. Our transportation department continues to work on creating efficiencies to expedite bus routes.
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Will the new start times impact Parkway West CTC start/end times for USCHS students?
No, the instructional day for Parkway West will not change.
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With the middle schools on the same schedule, this will create a conflict for families with car riders at both schools. Is there a solution?
Our middle school start and end times have always been within five minutes of each other. While the newly approved plan has the schools on the same schedule, we do not anticipate car riders having any issues.
Boyce/Fort Couch car riders with siblings in the district’s other middle school are encouraged to reach out to the building principals to create a plan that works for the family and the school. -
Will busing for transfer students remain the same?
(This applies to elementary students who attend a different elementary school than what is assigned based on address.)
Yes. Transfer students will not be impacted by the change other than starting a little later. They will continue to operate according to the new school district schedule.
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How will after-school activities/athletic practices be affected?
Practices and some home athletic competitions that typically occur immediately following the school day will likely start approximately 30 minutes later than in previous years. The coach/sponsor for each team/activity will set and communicate schedules.
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How do I access before/after school childcare at USC?
Extended Day Services (EDS) offers before/after school care within Baker, Eisenhower and Streams elementary schools as well as Boyce Middle School. For information, please visit: https://www.extendedday.com/upper-st-clair
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Will transportation for private/parochial students be affected by this change?
Transportation for private and parochial students who reside in USC will not be impacted by the new times in the Upper St. Clair School District.