The new law allows school systems to be deemed in compliance with the July 1, 2026, mandate requiring middle schools to start no earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m., if they submit a report to the Department of Education by June 1, 2026.

The report must detail the current start times for all schools in the district, strategies considered for implementing later start times, records of public engagement such as board meetings and parental input, the financial impacts of compliance, and any unintended consequences for students, staff, or the broader community.

The provision also applies to charter schools, with the exception of charter schools-in-the-workplace, which remain exempt under existing law.

The 2023 statute requiring the later start times also directed school districts to inform stakeholders about the effects of adolescent sleep deprivation and to consider community-based strategies to support implementation. That provision remains in effect.

According to data from the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, nearly half of Florida’s high schools begin before 7:30 a.m., and the average high school start time is 7:45 a.m. In contrast, middle schools average a later start time of 9:03 a.m., with only eight percent starting before 8 a.m.

Districts have cited a range of barriers to shifting schedules, including limited transportation capacity, staffing shortages, conflicts with after-school activities, and logistical challenges in rural areas. Several noted that adjusting routes would require doubling their bus fleet or dramatically altering elementary school schedules.

To aid implementation, lawmakers in 2023 appropriated $5 million for school districts and charter schools. The Department of Education is required to submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2026, outlining the use of those funds and any observable effects on student performance, attendance, and mental health.