Late Start Information
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The Fox C-6 School District is proposing adding late start days to the school calendar to encourage staff collaboration. While discussing this proposal with staff and family groups, several questions have arisen about implementing a late start schedule. Please review the questions and answers below regarding the proposed late start schedule for the 2025-2026 school year.
Family/Community FAQs
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How late would school start on late start days?
School would start one hour later than normal on late start days.
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What day of the week would be a late start day?
Late start days would occur on 17 Wednesdays throughout the school year beginning in September. All late start days will be noted on the Board-approved district calendar. Please see below for a draft 2025-2026 school year calendar with late start days on it.
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When would late start days begin?
Discussions with stakeholder groups are occurring this fall. Pending Board approval of a calendar with late starts in it, this could begin in the 2025-2026 school year.
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How will I know when late start days are going to happen?
Late starts take place on 17 Wednesdays during the school year. They will be designated on the school district calendar each year. Please see the draft calendar below.
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Would a late start day be rescheduled if there is an inclement weather day on a Wednesday?
No. Late start days will not be rescheduled for another day if there is a snow day on a late start day.
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Would late start days decrease the amount of time teachers are pulled from classes for PD and curriculum work?
No. Late start days are set aside for data review. Professional development and curriculum work would happen as it does now.
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Would we have to start making up snow days if late start days were implemented?
Fox C-6 will need to make up snow days in the 2025-2026 school year based on recent legislation, regardless of late start days.
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Why does Fox need to institute late starts?
Late start days will be dedicated to teacher collaboration for the purpose of improving student achievement through:
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: Educators will analyze student data together, enabling them to make informed decisions about instruction and interventions.
- Improved Targeted Instruction: Students will benefit from improved targeted instruction.
- Collaboration: Teachers have dedicated time to collaborate with colleagues and share best practices based on student achievement data.
- Aligned Curriculum (CSIP Goal): Teachers have time to make sure all students understand the curriculum and to have discussions around pacing.
- Improved Climate and Culture: Teachers currently don’t have the time needed to collaborate and make decisions to adjust instruction to foster increased student learning.
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What if families do not have childcare for an extra hour on late start days?
Free childcare will be available from a school’s normal arrival time until class starts on late arrival days. District employees will provide this supervision.
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How will students get to school on late start days?
Students will arrive via their regular mode of transportation on late start days (bus, parent drop-off, etc.).
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Will buses run on their normal schedules on late start days?
No. Buses will run on a late start schedule on these days, meaning that students will be picked up one hour later than normal on late start days. If students need to arrive at school at their normal time for childcare, families will need to drop students off on those days.
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Is a late start schedule a cost-saving measure?
No. Fox C-6 does not project any cost savings or additional expenditures with a late start schedule. The purpose of a late start schedule is to give educators dedicated time to collaborate around student achievement data.
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What will students do if they are dropped off during the normal drop-off time?
Students would have a few options, including academic activities and breakfast.
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Will breakfast still be available for students in the morning on late start days?
Yes, breakfast will be available for students who arrive at the normal school start time and for students who are arriving one hour later on late start days. Breakfast rates apply.
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How would a late start schedule impact the block schedule structure in the high schools?
The high schools are exploring a modified schedule for late start days where students would meet with every class.
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How would a late start schedule impact the middle school schedule?
The middle schools are exploring schedules without advisory on Wednesdays to maximize class time.
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How would a late start schedule impact the elementary school schedule?
There would be minimal impacts on the elementary school day schedule.
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How many late starts would students have in a school year?
There would be 17 late start days. Late start days would only take place during five-day school weeks and they would conclude before the state testing window open in the spring.
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Will teachers participate in PLC time outside of the weekly late start time?
Yes. Late start days will provide additional collaboration time for staff members.
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Does implementing a late start schedule decrease my special education student’s IEP minutes?
The District’s special education department is currently collaborating with other districts that utilize a late start schedule to make a plan for IEP minutes.
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Can this teacher collaboration occur during the day instead of late starts?
No, we currently do not have enough time or staff to facilitate time for staff to collaborate on a regular basis to focus on student achievement. Not all members of a professional learning team are available at the same time to collaborate during the day.
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If my student attends the Area Technical School or other out-of-district career and technical education programs, would those programs start later on Wednesdays, too?
No. Jefferson College ATS and other out-of-district career and technical education programs would maintain the same daily start time.
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How would late start days impact CKC?
Late start will not impact the arrival time of CKC on late start days. CKC will be available at the same start time, 6:15am, as it is any other day of the school year. The additional hour of student care will also not be at any extra cost to families.
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How would late start days impact Don Earl Early Childhood?
Student attendance days for early childhood are currently Monday-Thursday. The implementation of late starts could require an adjustment of student attendance days. Any changes to student attendance days would be clearly communicated to families.
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How would late start days impact the Building Blocks program?
Building Blocks would not be impacted at all during late start days. Building Blocks classrooms will continue their normal daily arrival and dismissal times as they do any other day. There will not be a late start time for Building Blocks classrooms.
Staff FAQs
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I am a classified staff member. Will my work schedule change with a late start schedule?
No. Classified staff members will work the same schedule on Wednesdays. Some staff members will be assigned to assist with student supervision during collaboration time.
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Will late start days take the place of professional development days?
No, there will still be professional development days in the school calendar. Professional development days focus on staff learning around best practices, curriculum, resources, district initiatives, etc. Late start days focus on analyzing data to close achievement gaps or to provide enrichment opportunities.
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How will singleton teachers (educators who are the only people in a building that teach a specific content) collaborate?
Teachers who don’t have other teachers in their building who teach the same classes will virtually collaborate with colleagues from other buildings.
