School start times will stay the same next year after a state transportation study

What happened

In April 2026 the committee approved proceeding with the recommendations of a Rhode Island Department of Education transportation efficiency study, which the agenda said included possible changes to school start and end times. In June the superintendent reported that, based on the study, the school department will not change start times for the 2026-2027 school year.

Why it matters to families

Start times set the whole family's morning: childcare, work schedules, bus stops and how much sleep older students get. Families who were expecting a change now know there is not one.

The evidence

The April 29, 2026 agenda lists 'Discussion/Action: RIDE Transportation Efficiency Study Recommendations including possible adjustments to school start/end times', and the approved minutes of that meeting record approval to proceed with the study recommendations. The June 15, 2026 approved minutes record that 'based on a recent transportation study the School Department will not be updating the start times of the schools for the upcoming 26/27 school year.' The study itself was not filed with the minutes.

The source