Move High School Start Times Later? Here's What Basking Ridge Says

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — New Jersey high school teens, including at Ridge High School, may get a couple of hours of extra sleep if the Legislature goes forward with a new bill that would move high school start times to no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

The new bill (A3816), sponsored by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) and Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), would go into effect at the start of the 2024-25 school year. The legislation would not impact elementary and middle school students.

Supporters of the bill say it is a response to the teen mental health crisis, which experts say was made worse by the pandemic. Read More: NJ High Schools Could Start At 8:30 A.M. If This New Bill Passes

Patch asked local residents whether it would be a good idea to have later start times for high school students. The responses were mixed among Basking Ridge residents, yet with more leaning towards supporting the change.

Here are some of the responses:

"I no longer have kids in high school, but I think this is a wonderful idea. Teen sleep is geared to later nights and later mornings," said one reader.

"Afternoon sports may be an issue unless the time change is dropped as well," said another reader.

"Absolutely. I would've done much better, had less detentions (from always being late to school), and probably wouldn't have fallen asleep in school all those years," said a reader.

"When I was in high school I struggled to get up to be at school. I always came home from sports exhausted only to have to get up early again ! In college I chose all mid morning or later classes and did so well," said a reader.

"Yes!!! Elementary kids should start earlier as they are typically early risers and don’t have sports late after school. With the amount of homework high schoolers and middle schoolers have and after school commitments, they aren’t getting enough sleep!" said a reader.

A new bill is looking to move high school start times to no earlier than 8:30 a.m. Do you think this would be a good idea for Ridge HS? Why or why not? Comment below, or join the conversation on the Basking Ridge Patch Facebook page.

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