Palm Beach County schools need to start later by 2026. Here are 3 plans to make it happen

A new state law requires later school start times for middle and high schoolers beginning in 2026. Palm Beach County school officials are wasting no time in planning for the overhaul to the school day.

On Wednesday, the school board will hear three different plans for adjusting start times to comply with the new law. The plans need to perfectly balance the requirement for middle school to start after 8 a.m. and high school to start after 8:30 a.m. with student busing needs, after-school activities, athletic practices and rush hour traffic patterns.

School board leaders won't decide start times during Wednesday's workshop, but parents and caregivers can weigh in on three options at the workshop and through community input surveys coming later this year. The school board plans to make its final decision in May 2025.

Currently, most district-operated high schools begin around 7:30 a.m., elementary schools begin around 8 a.m. and middle schools begin around 9:30 a.m.