Jan. 10, 2024

New Start and End Times Beginning in the 2024-25 School Year

Olathe Public Schools wants to thank its students, staff and families for their engagement in the last two school years as we have worked to allow access to educational opportunities for all students while also addressing our transportation challenges head-on with a three-tier bus schedule. To learn more, please visit www.olatheschools.org/startandendtime, which contains all the information from the last two years including the start and end time committee meeting presentations, feedback from the surveys and input at all levels and answers to frequently asked questions. At the regular December Board of Education meeting, the board voted to change the start and end time schedule beginning in the 2024-25 school year after much discussion and evaluation of feedback from parents, students and staff.

• High schools and Prairie Learning Center: 7:40 a.m.-2:40 p.m.
• Middle schools and Heartland Early Childhood Center: 8:20 a.m.-3:20 p.m.
• Elementary schools and Harmony Early Childhood Center: 8:55 a.m.-3:55 p.m.

This recommendation is the least disruptive to the overall system, both survey data from families and staff and input from secondary students supported this schedule, and it is a long-term solution to address the labor market with annual financial savings.  
 
The district understands this change will impact every family differently, and the magnitude of this decision has not been lost. Please be on the lookout for more information on solutions impacting each level and the transportation restrictions in place for this year that will be removed. Approving this new schedule now gives our district, families and staff a full semester and summer to make necessary plans and adjustments before school starts in August 2024. Thank you for your partnership throughout this process.

Open Enrollment Policy

The Olathe open enrollment policy was approved during the Dec. 7 Board of Education meeting. This is a direct result of Kansas House Bill 2567, which applies to all public schools in the state and takes effect in the 2024-25 school year. HB 2567 states all districts must allow non-resident students, who reside in Kansas, to enroll in and attend any school if the district has the capacity. All Kansas school districts must adopt an open enrollment policy outlining their own procedures by Jan. 1, 2024. A public hearing was held Nov. 2 in our district.

The policy includes an in-district transfer period starting Jan. 4, followed by a district employee transfer period starting March 1. District enrollment capacity must be determined by May 1 and posted on the district website by June 1. Non-resident applications would be accepted June 1-30, followed by a non-resident lottery selection process July 1-15.

Transportation would not be provided. Once admitted to an Olathe school, the child could continue attending Olathe schools K-12 if they maintain good standing. Eligibility to participate in Kansas State High School Activities Association activities for open enrollment transfer students would be determined by KSHSAA policies. Read more about open enrollment.

Graduation Requirement Changes for Class of 2028 and Beyond

In May 2023, the Kansas State Board of Education approved updated high school graduation requirements that will take effect with the class of 2028. A special Board of Education meeting was held on Sept. 21 to dive into the details of these changes. Read more about the specific changes to the graduation requirements.