the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Franklin Lakes NJ, big changes could be coming to the Ramapo Indian Hills High School District as administrators propose a later school start time and a revamped schedule for the 2025 academic year.
The New Plan
Under the proposal, classes would start at 8:20 a.m.—45 minutes later than the current 7:35 a.m. start. The school day would still end at 3:15 p.m., but the number of daily classes would drop from eight to six, with periods extended from 41 to 56 minutes.
Superintendent Shauna DeMarco outlined the plan in a Zoom broadcast, which is available for viewing at live.myvrspot.com and on the district’s website. The proposal will be discussed at the Board of Education meeting on Nov. 25 and voted on during the Dec. 16 session.
Why the Change?
The initiative reflects a growing nationwide trend to adopt later school start times. Research shows that during puberty, teens experience a natural shift in sleep rhythms, making it difficult for them to wake up early and arrive alert for morning classes.
California implemented statewide later start times in 2022, requiring middle schools to begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. While similar efforts in New Jersey have yet to gain legislative approval, some schools, such as Ridgewood High School, have independently adopted later schedules.
Key Features of the Proposal
- Later Start Time: Classes would begin at 8:20 a.m., giving students more time to sleep in the morning.
- Rotating Schedule: To avoid any subject always being stuck in the early morning slot, class periods would rotate throughout the day.
- Unified Lunch Period: All students would have lunch at the same time, fostering greater social interaction and opening opportunities for extracurricular activities during school hours.
- Longer Periods, Fewer Classes: Daily periods would increase to 56 minutes, and science would be the only class to meet every day.
Community Involvement
DeMarco emphasized that the proposed schedule was developed with input from parents, students, and faculty. She noted that the block schedule and later start have been popular topics since she joined the district in August.
Looking Ahead
The district’s two high schools, Ramapo in Franklin Lakes and Indian Hills in Oakland, could adopt this schedule as early as fall 2025 if the proposal is approved.
This innovative approach aims to address students’ developmental needs while maintaining the district’s focus on academic excellence. The upcoming Board of Education meetings will provide further clarity, and the final vote in December will determine whether these changes become a reality.
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Kids can sleep later. Give me a break. They are teens have more energy than a NASA space rocket
Hey, when I went to school in Glenrock in the 80s, we started at 8:05 and we were done by 3 o’clock. What’s the problem? Why change things and they were great hours