Atlanta Public Schools has reversed course on an earlier start time for high schools after outcry from students and parents.
In a May 7 email, APS announced that the first bell for high school would be 7:45 a.m. – 45 minutes earlier than usual – as part of a recalibration to make up for lost education time during the pandemic. The move prompted a petition and accusations that APS didn’t consult with parents before making the time change.
On June 7, the district announced that it had made a change after feedback from parents, staff, and a survey. When school starts in August for the 2021-22 academic year, the first bell for high schoolers will be 8:45 a.m.
Here’s the new bell schedule for all grades:
Elementary School: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. (Previously 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)
Middle School: 9:15 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. (Previously 9:05 a.m. – 4:05 p.m.)
High School: 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. (Previously 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
The bell schedule change is one piece of APS’s plan to make up for lost learning as part its Academic Recovery Plan, which also includes a summer academy that has enrolled more than 11,000 students.
The first day of school is Aug. 5, 2021.
