Elementary school day shrinks 15 minutes next year

What happened

The School Committee voted 9-0 to shorten the elementary school day for 2026-27 from 6 hours 40 minutes (8:45 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.) to 6 hours 25 minutes (8:45 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.). The new schedule still clears the state's 900-hour yearly minimum, totaling about 960 hours instead of about 1,005. The change takes effect only if the teachers' union contract is ratified.

Why it matters to families

Every elementary family's pickup time moves 15 minutes earlier starting next fall. The district said Attleboro's elementary day was one of the longest among nearby districts, and consulted the before/after-school programs ABACUS and Robbins Children's Center before the change.

The evidence

The June 8, 2026 minutes record: 'Motion to adjust the elementary school start time in the 2026-2027 School Year as discussed contingent upon the ratification of the AEA Contract: Seconded: Vote: 9-0,' after the Superintendent's report gave the current hours (8:45 a.m. to 3:25 p.m., 1,005 annual hours) and the proposed hours (8:45 a.m. to 3:10 p.m., 960 annual hours).

The source