CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. – The Charlotte County School Board voted this evening to continue with the district’s current school start and dismissal times.

In 2023, the State of Florida passed legislation requiring middle schools to begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. by 2026. More recently, additional legislation (SB 296) allows school districts to request flexibility from these requirements by reporting the financial or logistical impacts associated with changing school start times.

Charlotte County Public Schools closely monitored the issue and gathered feedback from the community before the board’s decision. Each School Advisory Council (SAC) reviewed the proposal, provided input, and held a vote on how a potential change could affect schools across the district.

Based on that feedback, the overwhelming majority of SAC committees and families indicated they were not in favor of adjusting the current school start and dismissal times.

Charlotte County Public Schools appreciates the input provided by families, staff, and community members throughout this process.