UPDATED: 11/24/25
This article has been updated to reflect that Dr. Brian Yearwood will no longer be proposing a change to school start times at the Dec. 9, 2025, Jefferson County Board of Education meeting. The proposal would have shifted start times 20-minutes earlier.
A message from Dr. Brian Yearwood:
As we continue to listen, learn, and respond to the needs of our community, I want to share an important update regarding the proposal to adjust school start times beginning in the 2026–27 school year.
After careful review and continued conversations with families, staff, and community stakeholders, JCPS will pause and withdraw the current start-time proposal. While the intent was to strengthen student learning conditions and improve operational efficiency, it is clear that more analysis and deeper engagement are necessary before moving forward.
In the months ahead, my administration will take the time needed to examine a wider range of options that support strong instructional outcomes and protect a healthy work-life balance for our school-based employees. This next phase will include additional study, expanded feedback opportunities, and collaborative planning with our families, educators, and community partners.
Our commitment remains unchanged: to build thoughtful, sustainable solutions that meet the needs of our entire community and ensure the best possible learning environment for every student we serve.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership and continued support as we work together to strengthen JCPS.
Sincerely,
Dr. Brian Yearwood
Superintendent, Jefferson County Public Schools