Polk leaders preparing for school start time changes in 2026 [Video]

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – District leaders in Polk County are hosting community meetings this month to try to prepare families for upcoming changes to school start times.

A law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis last year will mandate that Florida middle and high schools start after 8 a.m. in 2026 onward, after studies showing health concerns associated with a lack of sleep in adolescents.

“There’s still a lot of people in the community that have no idea this is coming down the pipe. It’s going to affect everybody, even if you don’t have kids in school,” said Ryan DelliVeniri, Polk County Advisory Committee. “It’ll affect your morning and afternoon commute, and if you’re an employer, it will change how you can leverage high schoolers in the labor market.”

Polk County officials are looking at bus schedules, traffic concerns, before and after school programs, and potentially staggering school start times to ease concerns.

READ: Why are more people …