Nashville is reviewing school start times. Here’s what comes next.

City leaders are in the early stages of researching the pros and cons of changing school hours in Nashville.

Metro Nashville Public Schools is working with Mayor Freddie O’Connell and the Metro Nashville Board of Education to conduct a study evaluating the effectiveness of the district’s school hours.

“Research shows that how we structure and optimize instructional time has a real impact on student health and success,” said Mayor O’Connell.

More: Science backs Mayor O’Connell’s later school start time policy. Critics say it’s a logistics problem.

They are also considering factors like transportation logistics, family routines, and operational efficiency.

No decisions have been made as MNPS Superintendent Adrienne Battle said she wants to incorporate community feedback into any proposed solutions.

“We know there are opportunities and challenges with any start time structure for schools, and we want to ensure that any future changes are informed by the lived experiences of our community and grounded in what’s best for students both in and outside the classroom,” Battle said in a press release.

The first phase of the review process will allow families, students, staff and community members to voice their opinions via districtwide surveys, focus groups and both virtual and in-person town halls. MNPS will then publish a summary of these responses.

In the next phase – occurring this winter – they will provide potential schedule options and ask for more feedback.

MNPS stressed that there is no one-size-fits-all answer and they want to create options that reflect the diverse needs of Nashville residents.

The final phase will take place in early 2026 with MNPS presenting their findings to the Board of Education and outlining the next steps.