The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) will conduct hearings in connection with a study it is doing on later start times for middle schools and high schools.
The department is charged, as required by law, with conducting the study on the issues, benefits and options for instituting a later start time in schools.
The NJDOE will submit a report to the governor and the Legislature that details its findings and will offer a recommendation on the advisability of establishing a pilot program to test later school start times in interested middle and high schools. No regulatory change regarding school start time has been proposed.
As part of the study, the NJDOE will be conducting meetings throughout the state to provide parents,educators, students and community members the opportunity to share their thoughts on the issue.
The hearings will be focused on two central questions. The first is whether the NJDOE should establish a pilot program to examine later school start times in select middle schools and high schools that may be interested in participating in the program. The hearings will also seek input from stakeholders on how a school start time of 8:30 a.m. or later in their district’s middle school and/or high school would impact students, educators, community members and the entire district.
The regional meetings will be held at the following locations:
- Camden County College, Blackwood Campus, 200 College Drive, Blackwood on May 2, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Civic Hall.
- New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, 12 Centre Drive, Monroe, on May 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 1.
- Franklin Williams Middle School, 222 Laidlaw Avenue, Jersey City on May 10 from
- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the auditorium.
If board members, school personnel or students wish to testify, they may register by clicking on the link here and scrolling to the desired program date. Anyone who cannot attend the hearing but still wishes to testify may send comments to: [email protected] or by postal mail to: New Jersey Later School Start Time, c/o Division of Learning Supports and Specialized Services, New Jersey Department of Education, PO Box 500, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0500.