CLAY COUNTY — You heard right. As of now, the school district is in fact gauging the incorporation of new school start times.

But nothing is official yet.

On March 2, One Clay announced a new survey for families to decide whether to change the starting bell time for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. The district has three options to choose from.

Option A consists of keeping bell times as they currently are. This would be 7:20 a.m.-1:40 p.m. for high schools, 8:30 a.m.- 2:42 p.m. for elementary schools and 9:30 a.m.-3:42 p.m. for junior high schools. 

Option B would see elementary schools begin first and high schools last. This would be 7:20 a.m.-1: 32 p.m. for elementary schools, 8:30 a.m.-2:42 p.m. for junior highs and 9:40 a.m.-4 p.m. for high schools. 

Option C would swap out elementary and high school start times, while junior high would relatively remain the same: 7:20 a.m.-1:32 p.m. for elementary schools, 8:30 a.m.-2:50 p.m. for high schools and 9:40 a.m.-3:52 p.m. for junior highs.

Impacts for options B and C include: an increased need for after school care, younger siblings being home prior to older siblings in the afternoon, and high school athletics holding practices in the mornings and events potentially running later in the evenings. Additionally, the change in times may affect after school jobs.

The concept stems from House Bill 733, previously proposed in 2023. It required that the instructional day of district and charter middle schools start no earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. 

However, a newer law passed last year (Senate Bill 296) allows the Clay County School Board flexibility to decide what is best for its community. Ultimately, the School Board will be the ones to make the decision, but the district stressed that stakeholder input is important.

To take the survey, visit oneclay.net/o/ccds/page/2026-school-start-times.

If you have a question about your community you would like answered, email kyla@claytodayonline.com.