One of the major problems with changing school schedules is the need to restructure transportation plans. Most school districts already have in place a carefully organized transportation system. Even the slightest changes to school schedules may significantly upset the system. To restructure the transportation system, school districts potentially have to recruit new drivers if existing ones are unable to adjust to new schedules, reroute buses to accommodate different traffic patterns and determine the most cost-effective and timely manner of transporting students to and from school. This kind of restructuring takes time, requires money be spent and creates hassle.
Changes to school schedules negatively affect students who have a hard time adjusting to new routines. Specifically, young students have trouble adjusting to different sleep schedules. Parents have to adjust bedtimes, which may be difficult to enforce. As a result, students may not be getting adequate sleep at night, leaving them tired and ill-prepared to learn during the day. Teenagers also have trouble going to bed early, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Despite efforts to adjust sleep schedules, teenagers may be incapable of adapting to earlier bed and rise times.
School schedule changes negatively affect the community at large, not just teachers, students and families. Many daycares, public libraries and community centers like YMCAs and recreational facilities have schedules in place that accommodate afterschool programs. Therefore, when a school district changes its schedule, all of these community organizations have to reconfigure routines. Depending on the schedule, these groups may not be able to provide the same afterschool programs and services to students and families. For instance, if a school extends the length of the school day, a local library may not be able to provide tutoring services due to staffing schedules.
Changes to school schedules have the potential to negatively affect afterschool athletics and extracurricular programs. For instance, when school schedules are delayed, sports practices conducted after school have an hour less before dusk or before parents leave work to pick up children on their way home. On the other hand, starting school earlier in the morning may result in an extra hour between the end of practice and the time when parents are able to pick up their children.
When school districts adjust schedules, they are no longer in sync with other districts with which they interact. For instance, high school athletic teams from different school districts in a county or region compete against each other. If a school adjusts its schedule, it is difficult to create compatible sports schedules between schools. Students may have to leave school early to attend scheduled games or matches, and if administrators frown upon this practice, athletic programs may be canceled.