Should School Start Later in the Morning?

A number of school districts across the country have pushed back high school opening times in the face of growing evidence of the benefits of later start times for students. 

A new study from the University of Minnesota says there are "clear benefits for students whose high schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later." 

"This would include, for teens who reported they got at least 8 hours of sleep per night, that they were more likely to say they have good overall health and were less likely to report being depressed or using caffeine and other substances (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, other drugs," the study concludes. "Other positive findings include a significant reduction in local car crashes, less absenteeism, less tardiness, as well as higher test scores on national achievement tests." 

Long Island is home to the 14th national chapter of "Start School Later," a nonprofit organization "of health professionals, sleep scientists, educators, parents, students, and other concerned citizens working to ensure that all public schools can set hours compatible with health, safety, equity, and learning."

Riverhead High School parents are currently working with other districts in Sag Harbor, Westhampton and East Hampton to push East End schools to start later.

Not everyone is in favor of a later school day start, however. The New York Times reported that many parents, and some students, say a later start "makes sports practices end late, jeopardizes student jobs, bites into time for homework and extracurricular activities, and upsets the morning routine for working parents and younger children."

Read the full University of Minnesota study here and then let us know what you think. Should Long Island high schools open later? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.