In Ingolstadt, as in many large cities, local public transport is very busy in the morning hours, especially between 7:00 and 8:00. One way to relieve the burden on public transportation during this time is to stagger the start of classes, since the traffic flows that result from student traffic then extend over a longer period of time.
In order to find out whether such a staggering of school start times would be feasible in principle or which obstacles stand in the way of such a project, the ZFG has planned several surveys in the form of interviews with school administrators and parent council chairpersons as well as surveys among parents.
The feasibility study is intended to show the advantages and disadvantages of staggering class start times and, taking into account relevant scientific findings on the subject, to derive options for action that are possible with regard to staggering class start times at secondary schools in Ingolstadt. In this context, studies dealing with the connection between the start of lessons and the biological rhythm of children and adolescents are particularly relevant, as are studies on the staggering of lesson start times in other cities and districts.
The project will run from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31, 2021, with interviews with school administrators and parent council chairs scheduled to take place at the beginning of the new school year and the online survey during the fall of 2021.
Contact: Dr. Veronika Hecht