Question

I strongly believe our district should start middle and high schools at 8:30 a.m. or later. Teens are still growing and their bodies need more sleep, and starting school later will help students be healthier, learn better, and be safer on the roads. Below I explain two main reasons for this change, give facts from medical and research groups, and answer a common worry about sports and buses.


Teenagers naturally fall asleep later because of changes in their sleep hormones, so early school times make it hard for them to get enough sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics says middle and high schools should start at 8:30 a.m. or later because later starts give teens the chance to get the 8–10 hours of sleep they that later start times help adolescents sleep more and lower their risk for problems like depression, obesity, and poor attention in class. This evidence supports the idea that starting at 8:30 a.m. helps students be healthier and more awake during the school day.

Starting later not only improves sleep but also helps students do better in school and be safer. Research has shown that when schools start later, students get more sleep, have fewer absences and tardies, and sometimes see higher grades and tests. CDC also notes that later starting times are linked to fewer car crashes involving teen drivers, because better-rested teenagers are less likely to be drowsy while driving). These findings mean that a later start time can improve school performance and reduce dangerous situations for students who drive.


Some people worry that starting school later will hurt after-school sports, jobs, or childcare plans. It’s true this would require changes, but many school districts that moved at the start times found workable solutions, like adjusting bus schedules, shifting practice times slightly, and coordinating with community programs for after-school care. The health and safety benefits for thousands of students outweigh the inconvenience of changing schedules. In other words, while logistics matter, they are solvable and should not keep us from protecting students’ sleep, learning, and safety.


For the health, learning, and safety of our students, I urge the Board to change secondary school start times to 8:30 a.m. or later. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends this change, and research shows it helps attendance, grades, and reduces teen car crashes (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014; CDC; Wahlstrom et al., 2014). Moving start times is an investment in our students’ well-being and future success. remove all paratheses

Answer 1

I strongly believe our district should start middle and high schools at 8:30 a.m. or later. Teens are still growing and their bodies need more sleep, and starting school later will help students be healthier, learn better, and be safer on the roads. Below I explain two main reasons for this change, give facts from medical and research groups, and answer a common worry about sports and buses.

Teenagers naturally fall asleep later because of changes in their sleep hormones, so early school times make it hard for them to get enough sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics says middle and high schools should start at 8:30 a.m. or later because later starts give teens the chance to get the 8–10 hours of sleep they that later start times help adolescents sleep more and lower their risk for problems like depression, obesity, and poor attention in class. This evidence supports the idea that starting at 8:30 a.m. helps students be healthier and more awake during the school day.

Starting later not only improves sleep but also helps students do better in school and be safer. Research has shown that when schools start later, students get more sleep, have fewer absences and tardies, and sometimes see higher grades and tests. CDC also notes that later starting times are linked to fewer car crashes involving teen drivers, because better-rested teenagers are less likely to be drowsy while driving. These findings mean that a later start time can improve school performance and reduce dangerous situations for students who drive.

Some people worry that starting school later will hurt after-school sports, jobs, or childcare plans. It’s true this would require changes, but many school districts that moved at the start times found workable solutions, like adjusting bus schedules, shifting practice times slightly, and coordinating with community programs for after-school care. The health and safety benefits for thousands of students outweigh the inconvenience of changing schedules. In other words, while logistics matter, they are solvable and should not keep us from protecting students’ sleep, learning, and safety.

For the health, learning, and safety of our students, I urge the Board to change secondary school start times to 8:30 a.m. or later. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends this change, and research shows it helps attendance, grades, and reduces teen car crashes American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014; CDC; Wahlstrom et al., 2014. Moving start times is an investment in our students’ well-being and future success.