DeSantis ends Florida school start time mandate, OKs other education laws

Tampa Bay Times | By Jeffrey S. Solochek | May 22, 2025

The big story: Mandatory later start times for Florida’s middle and high schools are no more.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday quietly signed into law a measure reversing a 2023 statute that gave school districts three years to shift their schedules so middle schools begin classes no earlier than 8 a.m., and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

It’s a big win for the several county systems whose officials argued that the initiative, while well intended, proved a logistical struggle to implement. Concerns arose from small rural and large urban districts alike, and several school boards made this issue one of their top legislative priorities as the deadline approached.

To comply with the law, districts now will have the option of submitting a detailed report to the state explaining why they cannot make the start times work. SB 296 passed both chambers unanimously.

DeSantis also signed a variety of other school-related bills into law Wednesday. They include:

• The state’s seventh school security update since the 2018 Parkland school shooting massacre (SB 1470),

• Revisions to rules for homeschool students to participate in public school sports (SB 248),

• Stricter rules for schools to inform families of teacher arrests (SB 1374),

• An expanded definition for hazardous walking conditions to school (HB 85),

• New certification requirements for school social workers (HB 809), and

• Updated school grading rules for dropout retrieval programs (SB 1402).

Still no word on education funding for the coming year, though. As DeSantis said during an afternoon press conference, “Maybe even one day the Legislature will produce a budget. We’ll see. Hope springs eternal.”