Bell Schedule Update for 2026-27 School Year

Owasso Families,

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, I want to share an important update regarding the school day schedule.

In late June, the Oklahoma State Department of Education provided school districts with a new interpretation of state law regarding instructional time requirements, specifically ruling that recess can no longer count towards formal instructional time. At the same time, Oklahoma Senate Bill 1481 is a new law that mandates that students in kindergarten through 5th grade receive at least 40 minutes of recess each school day.

To comply with both the recess requirement and the state's instructional time requirements, the district will extend the school day by one minute—with dismissal moving to 3:46 p.m. for elementary sites and 2:46 p.m. for secondary sites—and will implement an adjusted lunch-recess flow and an additional daily recess slot at elementary schools. 

These changes allow us to meet all state requirements while preserving our current school calendar. Without these adjustments, the District would have had no choice but to add instructional days to the school year to remain in compliance with state instructional time requirements. 

We recognize that lunch and recess are important parts of the school day. Our goal has been to make the smallest possible changes necessary while continuing to provide students with valuable opportunities for learning, movement, and social interaction. With this in mind and with the school year nearly upon us, we did not feel that it was in the best interest of OPS families to make major changes to the 2026-27 school calendar.

If you have any questions or concerns about the bell schedule, please reach out to your child’s principal prior to the start of the school year in August. 

Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership as we work to provide the best possible educational experience for Owasso students! 

Sincerely,

Dr. Margaret Coates
Superintendent
Owasso Public Schools