Anchorage board reviews first‑year data on new school start times; no changes proposed

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage School District staff on Tuesday presented first‑year results from the district’s new school start times and told the School Board the briefing was for oversight; there is no current proposal to change the schedule.

"In January '23, you directed us to research available options, engage in information gathering, and provide a recommendation," said Mr. Gustafson, who led the start‑time update. He told the board the district contracted Western Demographics, held 14 focus groups, interviewed medical professionals, hosted three town halls and collected about 9,900 survey responses before the board voted to change start times.

The district implemented the staggered schedule for the 2024–25 school year: elementary schools begin at 8:00 a.m., high schools at 8:45 a.m. and middle schools at 9:30 a.m. Staff emphasized that the presentation reviewed one…