The ongoing workforce shortages across the country will likely mean changes to the start times at Seattle Public Schools next year.

The district said a shift to earlier start times for elementary schools is hoped to help mitigate ongoing staffing shortages for school bus drivers.

“There have not been enough drivers available for the number of school buses we need for the current start times,” an announcement about the proposal from the district reads. “This means our district had to suspend some bus routes, and some buses arrived one to two hours late.”

SPS says there are currently 50 suspended school bus routes due to a lack of drivers in the district and that the driver staffing issue is expected to continue next year.

Under the proposal, the district would shift to a three tier system with start times around 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM, and 9:30 AM across its campuses. The results would generally be smaller changes for older middle and high school kids but earlier, sleepier mornings for elementary students. Kids at Capitol Hill’s Stevens Elementary, for example, currently have a 7:55 AM first bell — that would shift to 7:30 AM under the proposal. There are exceptions. The Hill’s Lowell Elementary School start time would shift back from 8:55 AM to 9:30 AM under the plan.

Capitol Hill Area Schools — Current — Proposed

• Stevens Elementary — 7:55 AM — 7:30 AM
• Lowell Elementary — 8:55 AM — 9:30 AM
• Meany Middle —  8:55 AM– 8:30 AM
• Washington Middle — 8:55 AM — 8:30 AM
• Garfield High — 8:45 AM — 8:30 AM
• Nova — 8:45 AM —  8:30 AM

You can view the list of the proposed start times for every school here.

Driver staffing and school bus issues have been issues since before the pandemic. CHS reported here in 2018 on the challenges the district faced. The district has also made shifts based on research showing older students demonstrated better academic performance with later start times.

SPS is currently collecting feedback on the planned changes. You can learn more and add your comments here.

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