Not All Florida Students Want School Start Times Pushed Back

Starting in the 2026 school year, many Florida students will get a little extra sleep thanks to a law passed in 2023 that pushes back school start times. The bill requires district school boards to adopt new middle and high school start times beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. By July 1, 2026, middle schools may not begin the instructional day prior to 8:00 a.m., and high schools may not begin prior to 8:30 a.m.

For some classes, this will be only a minor change, but others will be significantly impacted. Many Collier County high schools start as early at 7:10 am. Lee County high schools start at 7:05 am. When they passed the law, Florida lawmakers said they believed that the later school start times would help students get more sleep, which can result in better physical and mental health. But what do the students think?

Current high school junior, Brayden Lurie says he’d rather start early than get out later, especially with after school sports. Our Southwest Florida climate also creates challenges with the high heat and frequent afternoon storms. All of which can affect extra curricular activities.

Other states, such as Wyoming, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Connecticut, Colorado, etc., have already made this switch, and Florida is about to do the same. Brayden, who isn't a fan of the switch, will not have to deal with it since it will begin the year after he graduates. But is this really what's best for Florida students?

The American Psychological Association has been advocating for later school start times for years, citing research that shows earlier bell times lead to a big discrepancy between the amount of sleep teens get and the amount they need.

The association says that adolescents should optimally be getting a little more than nine hours of sleep per night. Yet, a 2014 study from the National Sleep Foundation showed that only 10% of students between the ages of 15 and 17 were getting that much sleep. Will a later start time get the kids more sleep, or simply encourage them to stay up even later?

Another factor is the parents. Although middle and elementary schools are not greatly affected by this change, some Southwest Florida high schools will be starting nearly 90 minutes earlier. Dropping your kid off at school before work becomes a different task, at least until they're old enough to drive. Another is the busses. Finding enough people to drive school busses is already difficult enough, will this make it easier to staff, or more difficult? That's up to school administrators to figure out. Which they have 2 years to do.

The back-to-school shopping season is upon us, and teachers everywhere are digging into their own pockets to stock up on classroom essentials. According to the National Education Association, educators shell out an average of $500 to $750 annually on supplies their students need.

Many teachers say their districts don’t always provide everything needed to keep students engaged, comfortable, and ready to learn. A survey by the U.S. Department of Education reveals that 94 percent of teachers are spending their own money on classroom necessities. It’s not just teachers either. Support staff like bus drivers, front office personnel, classroom aides, and custodians are also using their own wages to buy supplies.

These purchases cover everything from paper, pencils, markers, and glue, to online learning program subscriptions, lab equipment, snacks for hungry kids, tissues, cleaning supplies, and even hand soap for the bathrooms.

Last year, CNN reported that most school supplies have jumped in price, sending the cost of writing tools and supplies such as crayons, pens, and pencils up nearly 19% year-over-year.

Jamesha Gilliam, a public high school English teacher in Marion County, Florida, keeps a locker in her class filled with pens, pencils, notebooks, glue sticks, and other stationery materials.

“I use my own money to keep it filled up during the year,” said Gilliam. But she was hit with sticker shock when she went to buy a bulk supply of unsharpened pencils. “I would get a 50-pack box for $10, and this year it’s closer to $25,” she shared with the outlet.

Parents have been noticing this as well with some sharing how the cost of back-to-school supplies has gotten out of hand.

TikTok user @cramer.crew, known as Christy, recently shared her annual back-to-school haul for two kids. Her list included the usual suspects like dry-erase markers, folders, notebooks, glue sticks, tissues, and paper towels. Most items were store brands, particularly Target's, which another local mom found to be the cheapest. Christy skipped big-ticket items like electronics and didn’t include backpacks or lunchboxes, which she bought separately. Despite reusing some items like her older child’s backpack and calculator, her total still came to $170.23.

“Absolutely insane. Insane!” she exclaimed.

Another parent, @addi_archers_mommy, known as Harlee, shared her frustration: “I just spent about $100 on my first grader’s school supplies,” she said. “And they wouldn’t even let me buy anything fun.”

She showed her haul, noting the specific name brands required. Although Harlee didn’t always stick to those brands, a teacher friend explained that these requests often come from experience, as investing in quality can save money long-term.

No one seems to blame teachers for the costs. In fact, Christy, in the comments of her video, expressed appreciation for teachers, telling one commenter, “Crazy how teachers are expected to provide it all.”

As the back-to-school season kicks off, some retailers are stepping up to ease the financial burden on teachers by offering discounts and special deals on classroom supplies. They’re rolling out special deals and discounts to help educators fill their classrooms without emptying their wallets. Ready to see which stores are making it easier for teachers to snag those must-have supplies? Take a look at the list below and find out who’s offering a helping hand this school year.

New members can get a $20 or $40 Costco Shop Card, an exclusive offer for teachers. Teachers also receive a 10% discount at most Dollar Tree locations by showing a valid school ID. At Michael’s, teachers save 15% on every purchase. Office Depot offers a 10% discount on in-store purchases for teachers. Staples provides a 20% discount on in-store purchases with an app coupon and teacher ID. Additionally, teachers can enjoy 20% off storewide at Target through Target Circle, available until Saturday, August 24.

Both teachers and students can access Adobe Pro, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and InDesign, for just $19.99 per month during the first year, and $34.99 per month thereafter. Additionally, teachers and their families can enjoy a 25% discount on AT&T wireless plans, starting at $27 per month for four lines. Instructors can save up to $25 per month on Verizon's Unlimited wireless plans. Canva offers free access to creating lesson plans, posters, and infographics through this link. Teachers get six months of Babbel lessons for $36, a 60 percent discount. Teachers also receive discounts on Google Workspace for Education, which includes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet, and more, as well as discounts on Chromebooks. Office 365 Education and Microsoft Teams are available for free, along with a 10% discount on Windows devices. The Apple Store for Education offers discounted items for K-12 teachers, including select Macbooks and iPad.

Books will always be essential for both students and teachers, and there are discounts available for educators looking to expand their collections. Teachers can enjoy up to 25% off on books, toys, and games by joining Barnes & Noble Educators. The Scholastic Teacher Store offers great items for 25% off and up to 50% off with other sales and deals. Scholastic also hosts book fairs and warehouse sales where teachers can purchase items at marked-down prices. Additionally, local bookstores often offer similar discounts for teachers, so it's worth checking out nearby options to find the best deals.