When School Is Flexible: Why Changing Clocks Becomes Less of an Issue

Sunday, November 1 marks the end of daylight saving time, when we “fall back” and welcome earlier sunrises and sunsets. Many parents would like to lock the clock year-round. It sounds like a simple solution, but the reality is more complicated. 

A recent study conducted by K12-powered online schools found that 45% of parents of K-12 students and 45% of K-12 teachers support permanent daylight saving time. But once they saw what that would mean for January sunrise times in their ZIP codes, support dropped to 36% among parents and 35% among teachers. If the clock were locked on daylight saving time, 94 of the 100 largest school districts would start every winter morning with a commute before sunrise. 

Even under current time policies, 93% of teachers say students arrive tired or unfocused on at least some winter mornings. Parents also point to late evening activities, trouble sleeping, and part-time jobs as ways early start times affect their children. Simply put, the issue isn’t the clock. It’s the lack of flexibility in a traditional school schedule. 

Survey respondents favored more flexibility at the start of the school day, such as a virtual first period or a later start. But changing a traditional schedule isn’t as simple as moving the first bell. Districts have to plan around bus routes, staffing, sports, and extracurriculars, and a later start can mean a later dismissal. For many families, online school is the solution. It gives them the flexibility to fit school into their lives, not the other way around. 

Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA) offers structure and support similar to a traditional public school, with more flexibility and personalization. State-certified teachers lead classes where students learn alongside classmates through group projects, hands-on learning, games, and one-to-one time with teachers. For some students, that flexibility builds confidence as they master a topic before moving on. For others, it means time to care for family members, earn money at a part-time job, or pursue a sport. 

Ultimately, this isn’t about declaring online learning the solution to dark winter mornings. It’s about finding an environment where your student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, without starting the school day before the sun is even up. 

Looking for a school that fits the rhythm of your family’s life? Enroll at Wisconsin Virtual Academy today. 

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