NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — School start times could change again for Pasco County students, this time due to a legislative mandate. 

What You Need To Know

  •  HB 733 changes start times for middle and high schools

  •  Middle school can start no earlier than 8 a.m.

  •  High school can start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

House Bill 733 requires district school boards to start middle school no earlier than 8 a.m., and high school no earlier than 8:30 a.m. beginning in the 2026-27 school year. One Pasco County School Board member says the key is to prepare early, and get parents involved.

When she’s not attending to school board business, you’ll find District 3 Board member Cynthia Armstrong in her realty office.

As a Realtor, she’s seen the growth in Pasco County and the challenges that come with it for schools, with the next one likely being the school start time legislation, which Armstrong says will impact a lot.

“It’s going to impact working with the local governments and law enforcement as far as crossing guards, working with daycare centers because they’re going to be needing to expand before and after school care,” she said.

“Parents may have to adjust their schedules to make sure students are able to get there on time and then it’s high school employment time for the students will have to be adjusted as well, and some of the sports schedules.”

Right now, middle schools in Pasco County start between 7:10 a.m. and 9:10 a.m. High schools start between 7:06 a.m. and 10:10 a.m.

Armstrong says the district already changed bell times to make bus routes more efficient due to driver shortages. Now, they’ll lose that flexibility.

“The bus driver shortage is a national issue, and it’s something we’ve been working very hard on," Armstrong said. "We’ve thought outside the box as for recruiting as far as improving the pay and working conditions, so it’s something that has been improving for us but we’re nowhere we would like to be.”

Armstrong says planning and communication will be key moving forward—and she encourages parents to pay close attention.

“A lot is going into this, that’s why we’ll be starting our communication very early with surveys and just getting the word out so everybody can have a say as to how it may impact them," Armstrong said.

Hillsborough County schools already adjusted its school times to align with the legislation. Armstrong says she’s interested in learning more from the district about how they went about it.