Editor’s note: The district has heard concerns about the initial survey that was presented earlier this week on standardized school start times, and in response has revised the survey to offer more choices and an opportunity to include comments. Questions are also added that will collect more information about the needs of those taking the survey.

HISD is considering standardizing school start times across grade levels starting in the 2018-19 school year, with the goal of increasing the efficiency of bus transportation, and is conducting a survey to collect parent feedback.

Across more than 280 campuses, HISD manages 67 different school start times – which is the highest number in the state. This poses challenges to delivering safe, reliable, and affordable transportation for students. Those challenges include: ineffective routes, increased cost of maintenance and repairs, and reduced availability for field trips and athletic events (an increased cost for campuses).

Take the revised parent survey now

The benefits of standardized start times include: increased ridership, efficient routes that arrive and depart on time, and extended life of the bus fleet.

Several options are being weighed to standardize times. K-8 campuses would fall under the elementary school schedule, and 6-12 campuses would fall under the middle/high school schedule. The options are:

Option 1:

Elementary school start time: 8:15 a.m.
Elementary school dismissal time: 3:35 p.m.

Middle school start time: 7:15 a.m.
Middle school dismissal time: 2:35 p.m.

High school start time: 7:15 a.m.
High school dismissal time: 2:35 p.m.

Option 2:

Elementary school start time: 7:15 a.m.
Elementary school dismissal time: 2:35 p.m.

Middle school start time: 8:45 a.m.
Middle school dismissal time: 4:05 p.m.

High school start time: 8:45 a.m.
High school dismissal time: 4:05 p.m.

Option 3:

Elementary school start time: 8:45 a.m.
Elementary school dismissal time: 4:05 p.m.

Middle school start time: 7:30 a.m.
Middle school dismissal time: 2:50 p.m.

High school start time: 7:30 a.m.
High school dismissal time: 2:50 p.m.

Option 4:

Elementary school start time: 7:30 a.m.
Elementary school dismissal time: 2:50 p.m.

Middle school start time: 8:30 a.m.
Middle school dismissal time: 3:50 p.m.

High school start time: 8:30 a.m.
High school dismissal time: 3:50 p.m.

To take the parent survey, click here. The survey will close on Nov. 6.