Question

Changing school start times for teens has been suggested as a way of improving test scores and overall performance. Some research even supports this change. While the research is sound, the complications associated with moving school start times back are just too numerous for this suggestion to be taken seriously.

Students who are involved with after-school activities will have to cut back or even eliminate their involvement if school gets out later. For some, the chance to participate in clubs or sports teams is a major factor in their willingness to come to school. School attendance for these students could decline significantly if they are forced out of activities. There have been ideas about installing lights so that students can play sports on the outdoor fields later at night. While this could be a good solution, there are not many school districts willing, or able, to make this sort of investment.

Another problem that would be faced with a later start time is the complete change in scheduling that would be necessary. School districts would probably be forced to start elementary schools earlier in order to allow the middle and high schools to start later. This seems like an easy plan until you look at the details. In order for elementary schools to start earlier, students will need to be picked up by the bus earlier. Not many people would be in favor of young children standing in the dark before the sun rises waiting for a bus. Also, younger children need more sleep than teens. They will have to go to sleep earlier if they are forced to wake up earlier. This will be detrimental in homes where parents get off of work late and have to put their children straight to bed. This would mean families would miss out on crucial quality time together.

While something needs to be done in order to help teens get more sleep, pushing the school start time back is not the answer. The complications necessary for this sort of change are too vast and not worth the effort.Which TWO sentences from "Keep Start Times as They Are" BEST support your answer in part A?


Students who are involved with after–school activities will have to cut back or even eliminate their involvement if school gets out later.


School attendance for these students could decline significantly if they are forced out of activities.


There have been ideas about installing lights so that students can play sports on the outdoor fields later at night.


While this could be a good solution, there are not many school districts willing, or able, to make this sort of investment.

Answer 1

- "Students who are involved with after-school activities will have to cut back or even eliminate their involvement if school gets out later."
- "While this could be a good solution, there are not many school districts willing, or able, to make this sort of investment."

Reason: the first shows a direct negative impact on students, and the second shows the main proposed fix (installing lights) is impractical for most districts, supporting the claim that the complications make changing start times untenable.