1. © 2014 K12 Insight Results and Analysis School Time Task Force Survey — Parents Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools April 3 – 25, 2014

2. © 2014 K12 Insight Overview Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools established the School Time Task Force to study current bell schedules and to make recommendations to help inform district leadership about potential changes in bell schedules. In order to gather as much feedback as possible, the task force designed a School Time Survey which examines various daily start and end times. Survey questions focused on a variety of issues, including how school bell schedules might impact student learning, physical well-being, extracurricular activities and family schedules. Parents, staff members and students were asked to participate. This report summarizes the results of the parent survey. The School Time Task Force Survey was open April 3-25, 2014. Parents for whom the district had email addresses were emailed unique URL invitations to participate. Additionally, a public URL was available on the district’s website, and paper surveys were made available at Central Office and in all schools. 2

3. © 2014 K12 Insight Technical Notes Survey Development In order to increase content validity, survey questions were jointly developed in collaboration with the School Time Task Force. Most questions were voluntary; however, individuals were required to identify how many children they had enrolled in CMS Public Schools, the school level of each of their children, the name of their children's schools, and whether or not their children use CMS Public Schools’ transportation services to or from school. The required information was necessary for data analysis. Most items used 5-point Likert scales (Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Agree, Strongly Agree, No Opinion) Survey Deployment Pre-survey communications included a press release and a letter to parents announcing the survey. The survey was administered via a public URL, email invitations with unique links and on paper. Out of 48,490 emails, 45,178 were successfully delivered. The survey was offered in English and Spanish. 3

4. © 2014 K12 Insight Technical Notes (Continued) Data Analysis and Reporting The findings for each question in the report exclude participants who did not answer the item. Results do not reflect random sampling; therefore, they should not be generalized to the entire CMS parent population. Rather, results reflect the perceptions and opinions of just those 11,233 parents who responded to the survey. The denominator for all analyses is the actual count of responses to a given question or set of questions. This number may be the same or lower than the total number of survey responses. Data labels of 5% or less are not shown. Stacked bar charts show the full distribution of responses across all statements in each topic area. Sum of percentages may exceed 100 due to rounding. Theme analysis procedure: 10% or 100 (whichever is greater) of randomized open-ended responses were analyzed for common themes. 4

5. © 2014 K12 Insight Participation More than 11,000 parents participated in the survey. Six out of 10 parents have children attending elementary school and approximately four out of 10 have children attending secondary school. 5 Note: The sum of percentages may exceed 100% because participants could select more than one response option. Responding Group Email Invitations Delivered Email Responses Public URL Responses Paper Survey Responses Total Responses Parents45,1548,3642,7878211,233 All Parents

6. © 2014 K12 Insight Children Enrolled in CMS How many of your school-aged children are enrolled in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools? (N=11,232) 6 All Parents

7. © 2014 K12 Insight Transportation Do you currently use CMS transportation services to or from school? (N=11,225) 7 All Parents

8. © 2014 K12 Insight Themes from Open-Ended Responses 8 Please explain why you do not use CMS transportation services. The participating parents reported that... They use alternate transportation such cars, carpools, walking or transportation services provided by after-school care providers. They have bus safety concerns such as the ability of drivers, bullying, inappropriate behavior on the bus, and lack of supervision on the bus and at bus stops. Bus pickup and drop-offs were either too early or too late. They lived outside of the transportation zone. Note: Only participants who indicated that they do not use CMS transportation services to or from school were given the opportunity to answer this question. All Parents

9. © 2014 K12 Insight Current CMS Bell Schedules CMS is open to exploring changes to bell schedules. One option is to "flip" schedules, so that elementary students will take on the high school schedule and high school students will take on the elementary school schedule. Below is a list of the current CMS schedules: 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. (High School) 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. (Elementary School) 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. (Elementary and Middle School) 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. (Elementary and Middle School) 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Middle School) 9:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. (Elementary, Middle and 6-12 School) 9 All Parents

10. © 2014 K12 Insight CMS Bell Schedule Options Of the participating parents, 48% indicated the middle school schedule start and end time should be 15 minutes earlier, while 36% indicated the elementary start and end time should be 15 minutes earlier. Please indicate how strongly you disagree or agree with the following statements. CMS should... 10 All Parents

11. © 2014 K12 Insight Elementary School Parents

12. © 2014 K12 Insight Preferred Length of School Day Of the participating parents with children attending elementary schools, 41% prefer a 7-hour day and 34% prefer a 6.25-hour school day. In 2011, CMS extended the elementary school day by 45 minutes, providing additional instructional time. This resulted in reduced transportation costs and avoided extra cuts to classrooms. The elementary school day was extended from 6.25 hours per day to 7 hours per day. The state of North Carolina requires a minimum of 5.69 hours. Please select your preferred length of school day from the list below. (N=6,956) 12 Elementary School Parents

13. © 2014 K12 Insight Current Bell Schedule Sentiment Six out of 10 elementary school parents feel the current bell schedule works for their family. Please select the statement that best describes how you feel about the current bell schedule (start/end time) at your elementary school. (N=6,856) 13 Elementary School Parents

14. © 2014 K12 Insight Preferred Tiered Elementary Bell Schedule The majority of participating elementary school parent responses are split between the two earliest bell schedules: 40% for the 7:45 a.m. schedule and 30% for the 8:15 a.m. schedule. From the list of current CMS tiered elementary bell schedules, which do you prefer? (N=6,887) 14 Elementary School Parents

15. © 2014 K12 Insight Factors Considered When Selecting Preferred Bell Schedule The most important factor elementary school parents considered when selecting a preferred bell schedule was their child’s health and sleep. Please rank order the following factors when considering your child's preferred school bell schedule. 1 = Most Important to 6 = Least Important 15 Items Relative Weighted Score Overall Rank My child’s health and sleep1001 Student academic performance872 My work schedule653 Timing of athletics, after-school activities or extracurricular activities 564 Availability of transportation565 Before- and after-school care446 Elementary School Parents

16. © 2014 K12 Insight Themes from Open-Ended Responses 16 Are there any other factors you consider when considering your child's preferred school bell schedule? Participating parents expressed a desire for increased free time in the afternoons so that children have more time to play, spend quality time with the family, complete homework, and attend to other obligations. Some expressed a concern for scheduling conflicts due to the varying grade levels among their children. A small number of respondents insisted that the school day is too long and children need more sleep. Elementary School Parents

17. © 2014 K12 Insight Themes from Open-Ended Responses 17 What do you feel are advantages or disadvantages of a shorter elementary school day? Advantages reported by respondents included Increased free time in the afternoons so that children have more time to play, spend quality time with the family, complete homework and attend to other obligations. A shorter elementary school day would result in increased academic engagement and well-rested kids. Disadvantages reported by respondents included Limited instructional time and child care obstacles. Elementary School Parents

18. © 2014 K12 Insight Sleep for Elementary School-Aged Children How many hours of sleep does your elementary school-aged child get on most school nights? (N=6,983) 18 Elementary School Parents

19. © 2014 K12 Insight Description of Most School Mornings Which of the following statements best describes your oldest or only elementary school-aged child on most school mornings? (N=6,974) 19 Elementary School Parents

20. © 2014 K12 Insight Description of Elementary School-Aged Child at End of School Day Which of the following statements best describes your oldest or only elementary school-aged child at the end of the school day? (N=6,956) 20 Elementary School Parents

21. © 2014 K12 Insight Middle School Parents

22. © 2014 K12 Insight Current Bell Schedule Sentiment The slight majority of participating middle school parents (55%) indicated the current bell schedule is too late and they would prefer an earlier start/end time. Please select the statement that best describes how you feel about the current bell schedule (start/end time) at your middle school. (N=4,271) 22 Middle School Parents

23. © 2014 K12 Insight Preferred Tiered Middle School Bell Schedule Six out of 10 middle school parents prefer the 8:15 a.m. schedule. Below is a list of current CMS middle school bell schedules. From the list, which do you prefer? (N=4,262) 23 Middle School Parents

24. © 2014 K12 Insight Factors Considered When Selecting Preferred Bell Schedule Similar to elementary school parents, the most important factor middle school parents considered when selecting a preferred bell schedule was their child’s health and sleep. Please rank order the following factors when considering your child's preferred school schedule. 1 = Most Important to 6= Least Important 24 Items Relative Weighted Score Overall Rank My child’s health and sleep1001 Student academic performance942 Timing of after-school athletics, after-school activities or extracurricular activities 653 My work schedule654 Availability of transportation655 Before- and after-school care356 Middle School Parents

25. © 2014 K12 Insight Themes from Open-Ended Responses 25 Are there any other factors you consider? Participating parents reported considerations for the amount of free time kids have after school to complete homework, participate in extracurricular activities and attend to other obligations. Participating parents also reported concerns over traffic congestion, bus schedules and bell schedules. Participating parents reported concerns about child care and ways to ensure children get enough sleep. Middle School Parents

26. © 2014 K12 Insight Themes from Open-Ended Responses 26 What do you feel are advantages or disadvantages of an earlier middle school end time for students? Advantages reported by participating parents included Increased free time to spend quality time with the family, complete homework and attend to other obligations. According to respondents, an earlier middle school end time for students would Create additional child care options Ease traffic congestion Allow children more time to sleep Disadvantages reported included Limited instructional time Child care obstacles Tired kids Middle School Parents

27. © 2014 K12 Insight High School Parents

28. © 2014 K12 Insight Current High School Bell Schedule Sentiment A slight majority of participating high school parents feel the current bell schedule is too early and would prefer a later start/end time. The current high school schedule is from 7:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Please select the statement that best describes how you feel about the current bell schedule (start/end time) at your high school. (N=3,929) 28 High School Parents

29. © 2014 K12 Insight Preferred Tiered Secondary Bell Schedule The majority of participating high school parents were split between the 8:15 a.m. schedule (44%) and the 7:15 a.m. schedule (32%). The current CMS high school bell schedule is 7:15 a.m. - 2.15 p.m. From the list of secondary bell schedules below, which do you prefer? (N=3,913) 29 High School Parents

30. © 2014 K12 Insight Themes from Open-Ended Responses 30 The current CMS high school bell schedule is 7:15 a.m. - 2.15 p.m. From the list of secondary bell schedules below, which do you prefer? [Other (Please Specify) Responses] The majority of respondents reported a preference for 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Followed by 7:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. Some expressed an interest in new start times: 7:45 a.m. followed by 7:30 a.m.

31. © 2014 K12 Insight Factors Considered When Selecting Preferred Bell Schedule The most important factor high school parents considered when selecting a preferred bell schedule was their child’s health and sleep. Please rank order the following factors when considering your child's preferred school schedule. 1 = Most Important to 7= Least Important 31 Items Relative Weighted Score Overall Rank My child’s health and sleep1001 Student academic performance952 Timing of after-school, athletic and extracurricular activities 673 Availability of transportation634 My work schedule595 My child’s part-time job476 Before- and after-school care307 High School Parents

32. © 2014 K12 Insight Themes from Open-Ended Responses 32 Are there any other factors you consider? Participating parents reported concerns about the early start time for high school students. Most respondents indicated a desire to push back the start time to ensure students are well-rested. Participating parents also reported considerations for the amount of free time kids have after school to complete homework, participate in extracurricular activities and attend part-time jobs. Some respondents reported safety concerns including waiting at bus stops early in the morning or drowsy adolescents driving during early hours of the morning. A small number of participating parents expressed concerns over conflicting schedules due to the varying grades levels of their children. High School Parents

33. © 2014 K12 Insight Sleep on Average School Night for Secondary Students The majority of participating secondary parents (64%) indicated their child gets between 7 and 9 hours of sleep on an average school night. Some research suggests that a child's biological clock is reset during puberty, causing many teens to naturally fall asleep about 11:00 p.m. or later. How many hours of sleep does your oldest or only secondary school-aged child get on an average school night? (N=6,727) 33 Middle or High School Parents

34. © 2014 K12 Insight Secondary Student Readiness for School Day On most school days, my oldest or only secondary school-aged child... (N=6,671) 34 Middle or High School Parents

35. © 2014 K12 Insight Time for After-School Activities While the majority of parents (69%) indicated their child has enough time to complete schoolwork, 61% indicated their child does not have enough for a part-time job. How strongly do you disagree or agree with the following statements? 35 Notes: Not Applicable responses have been excluded from calculations. Sum of percentages may not equal 100 due to rounding. Middle or High School Parents

36. © 2014 K12 Insight Family Needs

37. © 2014 K12 Insight School Schedule and Effect on Family The School Time Task Force is charged with learning how parents feel about the current bell schedule, school day length (school start and end times), and how your child(ren)'s current school day schedule affects you and your family. How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? 37 All Parents

38. © 2014 K12 Insight School Schedule and Effect on Family (Continued) How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? 38 All Parents

39. © 2014 K12 Insight Considering Schedule Change

40. © 2014 K12 Insight Potential Trade-Offs Based on a preliminary review, the district may need to increase the transportation budget in order to accommodate any bell schedule change. This may require reallocation from and/or cuts to other areas in the budget. Please select potential trade-offs CMS should consider. 40 Note: The sum of percentages may exceed 100% because participants could select more than one response option. All Parents

41. © 2014 K12 Insight Themes from Open-Ended Responses 41 Based on a preliminary review, the district may need to increase the transportation budget in order to accommodate any bell schedule change. This may require reallocation from and/or cuts to other areas in the budget. Please select potential trade-offs CMS should consider. [Other (Please Specify) Responses] Participating parents favored reducing or eliminating funding in a variety of areas including: Cafeteria budgets, energy costs, standardized testing, professional development facilitators, after- school programs, transportation to magnet schools, extracurricular activities, school choice, and non-instructional staff and programs. Some participating parents suggested using alternate funding sources such as bonds, donations, fundraisers, tax increases and advertisements on school buses. In addition, some recommended charging fees for a variety of services including school registration, bus and carpool fees. Participating parents favored a change to the current bus system including consolidated bus stops, more buses/drivers, greater use of shuttle buses, examination of efficiency of bus routes and use of city buses. Some participating parents recommended a reduction in administrative positions and lower administrative salaries. Some participants suggested no change to the current system and some suggested an increase in walk zones. All Parents

42. © 2014 K12 Insight Altering the Current Tiered Bus Schedule Establishing start and end times for the school day is a complex process that must balance multiple factors that include instructional time, curriculum requirements, transportation and budgetary constraints. In order for CMS to consider any school-day bell schedule adjustment, the current tiered CMS bell schedule and bus routes would need to be evaluated for feasibility. Tier 1 7:15 - 2:15Tier 2 7:45 - 2:45Tier 3 8:00 - 3:00 Tier 4 8:15 - 3:15Tier 5 8:30 - 3:30Tier 6 8:45 - 3:45 Tier 7 9:00 - 4:00Tier 8 9:15 - 4:15 Based on this information, do you think the district should consider altering the current tiered bell schedule? 42 All Parents

43. © 2014 K12 Insight Themes from Open-Ended Responses 43 Please share any additional comments or suggestions related to school bell schedules. Participating parents favored changing the entire bell schedule, although a similar number of respondents wanted to keep the same bell schedule. They wanted to see a change to the high school schedule to ensure students are well-rested and a change to the elementary bell schedule due to the long school day. Some favored changing the middle school bell schedule. Others favored a change to the bell schedule so that students have more free time after school. All Parents

44. © 2014 K12 Insight K12 Insight is a technology-based research and communications firm that helps school district leadership better engage in conversations with parents, teachers, staff, students and the general public on critical district issues. K12 Insight's approach results in greater transparency and collaborative decision-making. Watch our Candid Conversations video, at http://bit.ly/12m6z4x, to learn more about how we work.Candid Conversations videohttp://bit.ly/12m6z4x 44