Recently, the Philadelphia School District announced a new "standardized bell schedule" that would shift the start times of some schools to as early as 7:30 am and as late at 9 am. This decision was NOT made in consultation with parents, students, and school communities, but was made simply in response to transportation difficulties in the bus schedule getting the students to school.

OUR LIVES AND OUR STUDENTS' WELL-BEING ARE NOT LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE CONVENIENCE OF THE DISTRICT'S SCHEDULING!

A 7:30 am start time is unreasonable: many studies have shown that young people, especially teenagers, function better when they are well-rested.

A 9:00 am start time is equally unreasonable: 9-5 jobs are called that for a reason! Parents need to be able to drop their children off at school before/on their way to work.

This schedule rollout is a larger symptom of the problem with the Philadelphia School District: decisions are made without enough opportunity for input beforehand and then the District is surprised and petulant when there is pushback. Superintendent Hite and his staff at 440 announced this decision unilaterally without requiring approval from the Board of Education.

After last year, #PHLed parents were looking forward to sending their children back to school in the fall. Now they are scrambling to make arrangements. ENOUGH.

WE DEMAND THAT THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT RETURN THE BELL SCHEDULE TO WHAT IT WAS, OR DEVELOP A NEW BELL SCHEDULE IN CONSULTATION WITH SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.