Ardmore City Schools has adjusted school start and end times for the 2026–2027 school year in response to new state requirements and the transportation needs of the district.
New State Recess Requirement
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1481, commonly referred to as the “Recess Bill,” requires public elementary schools to provide students in full-day kindergarten through fifth grade with 40 minutes of recess each school day. The recess may be divided into two 20-minute periods and must consist of supervised, unstructured time for play.
The new requirement represents an increase from the previous 20-minute recess requirement. School districts across Oklahoma have been reviewing and adjusting their daily schedules to accommodate the additional recess while preserving instructional time.
For Ardmore City Schools, meeting the new requirement required adjustments to the length of the school day and bell schedules.
Coordinating Bell Times and Transportation
While SB 1481 directly impacts students in kindergarten through fifth grade, changes to the district’s schedule must also account for transportation across all ACS school sites.
ACS buses serve multiple schools and routes each morning and afternoon. Start and dismissal times must be coordinated to provide the Transportation Department with adequate time to safely and efficiently complete routes and transition buses between school sites.
Because the district’s transportation system is interconnected, adjustments at the elementary level can also require changes to start and dismissal times at other schools.
The updated bell times were approved by the Ardmore City Schools Board of Education on August 3, 2026.
2026–2027 School Start and End Times
School Site | Doors Open | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Will Rogers ECC | 7:30 AM | 8:10 AM | 3:45 PM |
Charles Evans 1st & 2nd Grade Center | 7:30 AM | 8:20 AM | 3:50 PM |
Lincoln 3rd & 4th Grade Center | 7:30 AM | 8:20 AM | 3:50 PM |
Jefferson 5th & 6th Grade Center | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 3:20 PM |
Ardmore Middle School | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 3:30 PM |
Ardmore High School | 7:20 AM | 8:15 AM | 3:55 PM |
Take Two Academy | 7:20 AM | 8:30 AM | 3:40 PM |
ACS understands that changes to the school day can affect family routines, childcare, transportation, athletics and after-school activities. We appreciate the patience and flexibility of our families as these adjustments are implemented.
The updated schedule allows Ardmore City Schools to meet the new state recess requirement, preserve valuable instructional time and coordinate safe and efficient transportation throughout the district.
We appreciate the continued partnership of our families and community as we begin the 2026–2027 school year.