Radnor Schools Start Times Shifting For 2019-2020 School Year

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA — The Radnor Township School Board voted Tuesday to change start and end times at all its schools.

The board voted 7 to 2 in favor of the new times, which are listed below:

• Radnor High School — 8:30 a.m. to 3:04 p.m. (now: 7:35 a.m.-2:27 p.m.)
• Radnor Middle School — 7:50 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. (now: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.)
• Ithan, Radnor and Wayne Elementary Schools — 9:07 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. (now: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.)

The board said this ensures the greatest number of Radnor students benefit from the scientifically proven health benefits of increased sleep.

By pushing the Radnor High School start time back 55 minutes from 7:35 a.m., RTSD becomes the only school district in Southeastern Pennsylvania to successfully adjust its high school start time to align with the 8:30 a.m. start time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Medical Association.

“I commend the dedicated and thorough work of our Sleep and School Start Time Committee, which allowed our district and Board to feel confident in our solutions to the obstacles and, most importantly, that a change in schedule is best for our students," superintendent Kenneth E. Batchelor said. "Everyone in Radnor should feel proud of what caring people accomplished on behalf of the township’s youth.”

In addition to school schedule changes at all RTSD schools, the following schedule modifications and related activities will be implemented and undertaken, among others:

• End-of-School-Day “Fitness for Athletes” Course at RHS
• Refinement of RMS Schedule
• Study of Homework in RTSD
• Sleep Hygiene Education in Schools, Including Proper Technology Use
• Education on Time Management and Finding Balance

The district has also established metrics to evaluate the effects of the schedule change, including through surveys, focus groups, and comparisons of quantitative data.

“A change to our start time is big step, but still one of several we are taking in the name of student health and safety,” Batchelor said

The district is also in the midst of a Wellness Study and will soon release a parent, staff and student survey on school climate.