School start and end times changing at more than 70 CPS schools

Chicago Public Schools will change bell schedules at 60 high schools and 17 elementary schools this fall as the district tries to save money on buses.

The district, however, still won’t say which schools are affected. Spokesman Bill McCaffrey said Friday that “CPS is working with principals to finalize the time changes and communicate them to parents.” He added, “We will release a final list of schools as soon as it is available.”

Children will report to school as early as 7:30 a.m. and as late as 9 a.m., according to CPS. Dismissal could be as late as 4:30 p.m.

“New start and end times: 9:00 am – 4:30pm. No joke,” Gwendolyn Brooks Preparatory High School Principal D’Andre Weaver tweeted earlier this week.

Lincoln Park High School used to start at 7:45 a.m. But this fall, first period will begin at 8:05 a.m. most days, its principal also tweeted.

Last year the earliest schools began at 7:45 a.m., and the latest at 8:45 a.m.

The district says that changing the bells will save more than $9 million by consolidating the number of buses and drivers schoolchildren will need. The district also is laying off more than 1,000 staffers.