Balt. Co. Schools Will Soon Start Earlier

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- While other Maryland counties have pushed back their opening bells, the movement for later school start times hit a roadblock in Baltimore County.

Amy Yensi has more.

Parents, experts and educators across the state and nationwide have lobbied for later start times for high school students but one area district is going in the other direction.

Early to bed and early to rise.

"It's kind of hard staying awake in class and I find myself having trouble paying attention," said Austin Chisnell.

He says it'll be even tougher to keep up when classes resume in the fall. The Baltimore County Board of Education approved new hours at 18 schools next month. Seven will start later; 11 others are set to begin between five and 15 minutes earlier.

"Having to get there five minutes early will only increase our rush in the morning," said Kylie Chisnell.

The changes defy recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Both agencies say classes before 8:30 a.m. put the health of teenagers at risk and can hurt their academic performance.

"She's up late doing this homework. How can she go to bed early when she has all this work to do?" said parent Joyce Shepherd.

Most of the earlier start times are in the northwest part of the county, with Franklin and Randallstown high schools starting class at 7:25 in the morning. The County Board of Education changed the start times to accommodate changes to bus schedules.

James Mitcherling directs the Office of Transportation and says the new bell times are needed to provide busing for students at a new Owings Mills school.

"Sometimes we have to change schools a little bit earlier, a little bit later so that we can most efficiently run the operation," Mitcherling said.

An operation that could see more changes to keep up with the growing school system.

School officials say the decisions to change start times is up to the school board. The board has no plans to revisit the schedule.

Howard County school officials are exploring later start times for future school years.