Changing the school start time

Is your teen constantly tired after coming home from school? 87% of teenage students get less than 8 hours of sleep. Studies have shown that most teens need at least 8 hours of sleep to function properly, and a majority are going to school on less than necessary. Sleep deprivation is a huge problem for high school and middle school students. Many states have taken action to change this problem and have proven successful. The less sleep students get will affect their ability to learn, listen, concentrate, and solve problems. In addition, they are more likely to gain weight, have acne and, be more aggressive.

The expectation for teens to go to bed earlier is unrealistic. Everyone has a biological time clock and for teenagers, it starts at about 11pm. So, telling us to go to bed earlier wont help. Personally, I’m in bed early but I can never fall asleep until late. For me, I fall asleep around 10:40 and wake up at 5:45 to start getting ready for school. That’s only 7 hours. 70% of students surveyed said they have trouble staying awake during first and second period. It isn’t until 9:04, the end of second period, that most students are focused. Naugatuck High School’s first bell rings at 7:25, which is way too early for most students and even some teachers. In fact, 43 states have already pushed back their start times so why can’t we?

The 43 states that have pushed back their start times all have had positive outcomes. Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, New York, and North Carolina all reported saving on transportation costs. In fact, North Carolina saved $700,000. Massachusetts had 53% less failing grades after the change and Kentucky reported 16.5% less accidents. Wilton, Connecticut had grades 6-12 switch start times with grades 3-5 and won state championships the same year. The teachers reported a change in students attitude and said they seemed more awake. Their main concern was sports, which turned out not to be a problem considering that was their best year. They noticed more students participating in extracurriculars too. Starting school later will benefit students and teachers. A later start time would help the sleep deprivation problem and help teachers become more prepared for the day. Students will become happier and more alert.

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