Late Start Mondays

Every Monday, students will begin school two hours later than the regular start time to provide dedicated time for staff professional development. Dismissal times are not changed.

Late Start Mondays begin on the first Monday of the 2025-2026 school year, which is August 4, 2025.

Late Start Mondays will apply to most MSD Wayne schools, with a few exceptions:

• Schools NOT participating:
  • Area 31 Career Center
  • Little Giants Preschool will continue to operate under the Area 31 Career Center schedule and will not be impacted by Late Start Mondays 
• Wayne Preparatory Academy will follow an alternate Monday schedule: 
  • Morning session: Virtual Learning 
• Wayne Township Preschool will follow an alternate Monday schedule:
  • Morning session: 8:20 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.
  • Afternoon session: 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

No, the school day will end at the regular time on Mondays. This means students will have a shorter instructional day on Mondays.

Students will have approximately two hours less instructional time each Monday, plus three additional staff professional development days throughout the school year. We are adjusting curriculum pacing to ensure all essential content is still covered.

Our school calendar has been designed to ensure we still meet all state-required instructional days and hours, even with the Late Start Monday schedule.

No, students will not need to make up this time. The school calendar accounts for these changes while still meeting state requirements.

The need for eLearning will be dependent on the number of days impacted by inclement weather. If we need to make up instructional time due to weather closures, we may add e-learning to these professional development days. The M.S.D. of Wayne Township will provide updates throughout the year as needed based on the circumstances.

• Wayne Township Preschool will follow at alternate schedule on Mondays: 
  • AM Arrival: 8:20 a.m.
  • AM Dismissal: 10:50 a.m. 
  • PM Arrival: 1 p.m.
  • PM Dismissal: 3:30 p.m.
• Little Giants Preschool will continue to operate under the Area 31 Career Center schedule and will not be impacted by Late Start Mondays.
• Title I Pre-K programs are participating in Late Start Mondays. Every Monday, Title I Pre-K students will begin school two hours later than the regular start time. 

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HOSTS schedules will have published times for each day of the week. There will be no Monday HOSTS sessions during the first two hours of the day. 

Ben Davis University High School will operate on a Late Start Monday schedule. 

• Yes! The YMCA has added Monday AM Only Before Care options at four convenient hub sites: 
  • Chapel Hill 7th & 8th Grade Center (serving students who attend Chapelwood Elementary, Chapel Glen Elementary, and Westlake Elementary only)
  • Lynhurst 7th & 8th Grade Center (serving students who attend Garden City Elementary, Maplewood Elementary, Rhoades Elementary, and Stout Field Elementary only)
  • McClelland Elementary (serving students who attend McClelland Elementary and Bridgeport Elementary only)
  • Robey Elementary (serving students who attend Robey Elementary and North Wayne Elementary only)
• Please register for the hub site based on the school your child attends, NOT where you work as a staff member.
• On Late Start Mondays, transportation from each YMCA Before Care location will be provided to the schools they serve.
• Space is limited, so we encourage early registration to secure your child's spot. If your preferred program is full, please join the waitlist—this helps the YMCA determine whether to add staff and open additional spots.
• Learn more about the YMCA Before & After Care Program or register here.  

Yes, many local childcares are expanding their offerings to include additional hours on Monday morning.  Please check with your current childcare provider.  The YMCA Before & After Care program is also offering childcare for Late Start Mondays. 

Breakfast will be available when students arrive on Late Start Mondays. 

Yes, bus schedules will be adjusted for Late Start Mondays. 

This professional development time will be used to improve the learning outcomes of students through collaboration among colleagues.  

The District conducted comprehensive action research involving a team of stakeholders, including teachers, administrators, support staff, students, caregivers, and community members. The process included structured meetings to generate ideas and build consensus, supplemental analysis of costs and logistics, and evaluation of barriers versus benefits. The team considered multiple scheduling options (late arrival, early release, and four-day weeks) before recommending Late Start Mondays, which provides essential professional development time while maintaining student instructional minutes. The decision prioritized improving student growth and performance while supporting all staff development. To learn more, check out this video.