Louisville, Ky. – Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood is proposing a plan to adjust school start times for the 2026-27 academic year. This recommendation involves moving all start and dismissal times 20 minutes earlier across the district’s three-tiered school bell schedule.
JCPS spokesperson Carolyn Callahan shared that this proposal stems from feedback Dr. Yearwood received from principals and staff who expressed that the current 9:40 a.m. start time is creating added pressure within the teams. Dr. Yearwood stated, “We have heard clearly from our principals and staff that the 9:40 a.m. start time is adding pressure to our teams. This adjustment will help us better support our educators while still maintaining our focus on student learning.”
The proposed changes to the school schedule would be as follows:
– The current schedule of 7:30 a.m.–2:10 p.m. would be adjusted to 7:10 a.m.–1:50 p.m.
– The schedule of 8:40 a.m.–3:20 p.m. would shift to 8:20 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
– The existing schedule of 9:40 a.m.–4:20 p.m. would move to 9:20 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
This marks the third adjustment to school start times since the 2023-2024 school year, which saw a shift from a longstanding two-tiered system to nine different start times. Further changes were made in the 2024-25 school year, leading to the current three-tiered system.
Dr. Yearwood plans to present his recommendation at the Jefferson County Board of Education meeting scheduled for December 9. During this meeting, the board will also review suggestion to close and consolidate certain schools as part of efforts to address the district’s budget deficit.
This initiative reflects a commitment to enhance educational support while addressing the needs and concerns of both staff and students, fostering a more conducive learning environment.