The Maryland General Assembly has introduced cross-filed bills on safe and healthy school start times — consistent with the MCCPTA Resolution on Healthy Sleep for Adolescents:
Committee hearings are happening on Feb. 4 & 5, 2026, but your voice is still needed.
Start School Later has created a quick, one-click email tool that allows you to contact all 30 committee members at once. A pre-written letter is included and can be personalized.
Please click HERE and send your message as soon as possible.
If we don’t reach committee members promptly with strong support, these bills may not advance. Timing matters — let’s make sure they know this is a priority for families across Montgomery County. Please share this with your members as soon as you can
Background & Context (FYI)
As many of you know, MCCPTA:
- Passed a Resolution on Healthy Sleep for Adolescents in February 2025
- Hosted a community town hall in March 2025 with national experts entitled: Sleep Health and Student Success
These new bills establish guardrails:
- Middle schools may start no earlier than 8:00 a.m.
You may recall our Resolution calls for no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The difference reflects the bill’s role as a statewide safety standard — allowing flexibility while preventing dangerously early start times. Local control is preserved.
In the past, MCPS and some boards have opposed similar legislation citing “local control.” In my testimony to the MCPS Board of Ed last night, I emphasized that:
- These bills set health and safety standards, just like instructional hour requirements and school health laws
- They do not eliminate local control
- We expect MCPS to both support the legislation and honor the MCCPTA Resolution locally
What Comes Next
Our first goal is to get the bills out of committee and enacted.
If needed, we may later organize to ensure MCPS does not oppose the legislation — even if they choose not to formally support it.
More to come on that front.
For now, please take a minute to send your email today.
Your voice truly matters.
Thank you for your continued advocacy,
For more info on this initiative you can contact:
Sandra S. Landis
Montgomery County Chapter Leader
Start School Later