New Elementary School Day Implementation

St. Charles School District 303 is excited to be implementing a longer elementary school day beginning in the fall of 2020. This increase will allow our students to maintain their current access to core instruction and provide more fine arts, as well as other enrichment opportunities. 

The School Board and administration believes the longer elementary day aligns with the strategic commitment to support innovative learning, and it gives our elementary students important enhancements to their school day.  

Citizen Advisory Committee FAQ

Think Tank Meeting Summaries

Frequently Asked Questions

How will the longer school day benefit elementary school students?

The enhanced school day will serve the needs of the whole child by providing more access to fine arts and social-emotional support, as well as exploration and enrichment opportunities. Teachers, in partnership with the learning and teaching department, will collaborate to create age-appropriate experiences at each elementary level. To be able to provide a wide variety of experiences that are important for our students, a longer day is necessary. A seven hour school day for elementary students is common practice in high achieving districts across the country. 


What are the new start and end times for elementary school students?

High Schools
7:20 a.m. - 2:21 p.m.

Elementary Schools
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
A.M. Kindergarten 8:00 - 10:55 a.m.
P.M. Kindergarten 12:05 - 3:00 p.m.

Middle Schools
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 

Early Childhood
morning 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
afternoon 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

Will Richmond Intermediate students’ day be increased by 40 minutes?

No. All other elementary schools will increase the time in their day to match Richmond’s.

How does this impact before and after school care?

We will be working with our partner organizations that provide before and after school care to make the transition as smooth as possible for families.

When will the finalized information be communicated to families?

Families will be updated throughout the 2019-2020 school year. Information about the school day as well as enrichment opportunities will be provided to families prior to the registration process in the Spring of 2020.

Will this change affect the middle and high school schedules?

This change is expected to improve the efficiency of transportation and school schedules as it will allow for alignment of elementary, middle, and high school days.


Will bus route times change at all levels?

Bus routes will also be adjusted to match the new schedules at each grade level.