Sunday, November 1 marks the end of daylight saving time—the day we ceremoniously “fall back” and welcome earlier sunrises and sunsets. The biannual clock change is widely debated, with many parents advocating to lock the clock year-round. On the surface, it sounds like a simple solution. But the reality is more complicated.
A recent study conducted by K12-powered online schools reveals how different time policies would affect students, families, and the traditional school day. Students are commuting and starting class before the sun even rises, and teachers are taking notice of tired, unfocused students—in daylight and standard times. Simply put, the issue isn’t the clock. It’s the lack of flexibility in a traditional school schedule.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill that proposes permanent daylight saving time, which would mean more daylight in the evening. It would also put an end to disruptions caused by changing the clock twice a year, which research suggests can negatively affect sleep and vigilance in high school students and increase daytime sleepiness.
Locking the clock on daylight time is also a popular option among parents. The K12 study found that 45% of U.S. parents of K-12 students and K-12 teachers support permanent daylight time, compared with 33% of parents who favor standard time and 25% for the current system. But parents changed their minds when they saw what that policy would mean for January sunrise times in their ZIP codes, and support dropped to 36% among parents and 35% among teachers.
If the clock were locked under daylight time, 94 of the 100 largest school districts would start every winter morning with a commute before sunrise, and 75 of those districts would still be in the dark by the time of the first bell. But even under current time policies, teachers are witnessing the toll of rigid start times on students, with 93% saying that students arrive tired or unfocused on at least some winter mornings.
That suggests the bigger issue isn’t simply whether we continue changing clocks or stick with one time policy. It’s whether school schedules accommodate the realities of families’ lives.
Beyond dark commutes, parents also cite late evening activities, trouble sleeping, and part-time jobs as some of the ways early start times impact their children.
What Families Need Is More Flexibility
Clock changes, dark commutes, and sleepy school mornings don’t have to be the status quo. While policymakers debate how to set the clock, families are also looking for ways to make the school day work better for their own circumstances.
Survey respondents favored flexibility at the beginning of the school day, whether a virtual first period or the option of starting later. Yet, changing traditional school schedules isn’t as simple as moving the first bell. Districts need to consider bus routes, staffing, sports, extracurriculars, and family schedules, and pushing the school day later could mean later dismissal, cutting into family time. For many, online school is the solution—because it can give them more flexibility to fit the school day into their lives—not the other way around.
West Virginia Virtual Academy(WVVA) offers structure and support similar to a traditional public school, but with more flexibility and personalization. Classes are taught by state-certified teachers and include opportunities for students to learn alongside classmates, with the kind of activities you’d expect to see in an in-person class—group projects, hands-on learning, games, and one-to-one time with teachers.
Flexibility is what sets online school apart. As a Community Engagement Specialist at WVVA, I’ve seen firsthand the impact a more flexible learning environment can make on how students show up. For some, it instills confidence as they set the pace of learning, mastering a topic before moving on. For others, it offers peace of mind that they have time to care for family members, earn money at a part-time job, or pursue a sport. And for many, it simply creates more balance between school and the rest of life.
Ultimately, this isn’t about declaring online learning the solution to dark winter mornings or changing clocks. It’s about finding an environment where your child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. For some families, that means choosing a school that can better align with their lives’ rhythms—without requiring learning before the sun is even up.
