Question 1

What changes are being made?

Accepted Answer

Some schools will start and end at different times. Bus stops may also change. The school system also anticipates it will make technical fixes to its bus rider app, Stopfinder. It will also begin a “walk zone audit,” a process that will require the school system to annually review whether students live close enough to a school to walk, or if they require a bus because of any safety challenges. And the school system is adding a “codified opt-out” process, said Keba Baldwin, the school system’s transportation department director. Right now, the school system automatically assigns students to a bus if they are deemed eligible. But if a parent prefers to drive their child to school, they can formally opt out of bus service, which school officials say will help plan bus routes more efficiently.

Question 2

Will my child’s school start or end at a different time?

Accepted Answer

Currently, Prince George’s County Public Schools have 13 different starting times and 17 different ending times. Next school year, school system leaders are reducing that number to three different start times: 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Schools will end at six different times, because elementary schools have a shorter class day than middle and high schools. Those times include 1:40 p.m., 2:10 p.m., 2:40 p.m., 3:10 p.m., 3:40 p.m. and 4:10 p.m. School bell times are shifting by 45 minutes at most at a handful of schools, which include G. James Gholson Middle School in Landover, Francis Scott Key Elementary School in District Heights and more.

Question 3

Under the plan, are all elementary schools starting at 7:30 a.m.?

Accepted Answer

No. The three starting times will be spread among all schools.

Question 4

When do the changes begin?

Accepted Answer

The new bell times and bus stops will begin during the 2024-2025 school year, which starts in the fall.

Question 5

How will I find out if my child’s school is being affected?

Accepted Answer

A finalized plan was released Thursday. Parents of children whose schools will start at a different time next year received an alert about the change Thursday evening. School leaders will also share changes with parents through email, letters, social media and other methods. The school system is also hosting several community information sessions. Locations and dates can be found via pgcps.org/bus.

Question 6

Will my child’s bus stop change?

Accepted Answer

Under the plan, the average distance between bus stops will increase from 0.24 miles to 0.46 miles.

Question 7

Why are these changes happening?

Accepted Answer

Charoscar Coleman, the school system’s chief operating officer, said the changes, recommended through the 4mativ transportation audit, will help improve the reliability of the bus service. He said that changing the bell times will give drivers “a more adequate buffer” to complete routes. “We’re excited to tackle this long-standing challenge,” Coleman said. “We are committed to improving the efficiency of our transportation system and we want to assure the public that we’re doing this in a safe way.” He added that “no change happens overnight.” The audit also included other recommendations that school leaders predict will take years to implement and refine.

Question 8

Will before and after care hours at school sites change?

Accepted Answer

Meghan Thornton, a spokeswoman for the school system, said officials anticipate that the bell time changes will have “minimal impact” on before and after care sites at schools.

Question 9

My child eats breakfast at school. Will it start at a different time?

Accepted Answer

The school system didn’t directly say whether the hours would change. But Thornton said that the school system anticipates that the changes would “improve the efficiency of support operations like our student meal programs” because they will “reduce the late and staggered arrival of buses in the morning.”

Question 10

My child rides the bus to their magnet program. Will they be affected?

Accepted Answer

Students enrolled in a magnet program will be affected by the same bell time shifts, Baldwin said. This article has been updated with additional details on the bell time changes.

What to know about Pr. George’s schools changing bell times, bus stops