For many families across America, mornings can be described as a whirlwind of activity—lunches to prepare, shoes to locate, and an overall sense of morning lethargy. Thankfully, my children don’t have to be at school until 9 a.m., alleviating some of the morning chaos. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many other students. For instance, my niece’s elementary school begins its day at 7:45 a.m., while the majority of middle and high schools throughout the nation start even earlier, often before 8 a.m. This implies that many students are leaving their homes before 7 a.m., waking up before the sun—a situation that is particularly detrimental for teenagers.
This concern is not merely anecdotal; it has garnered attention from sleep specialists and health professionals for decades. Research consistently indicates that waking adolescents before dawn is neither healthy nor effective. The American Academy of Pediatrics asserts that teenagers require between 8 to 10 hours of sleep nightly. However, due to their unique biological rhythms, adolescents find it challenging to fall asleep early. As a result, they are caught in a cycle of late nights and early mornings, leading to chronic fatigue.
This relentless tiredness is detrimental not only to their health but also to their academic performance. Studies have shown that later school start times correlate with improved attendance rates, higher test scores, and better overall academic performance. Schools that have shifted their start times have also reported reductions in tardiness, substance abuse, and symptoms of depression among students. Additionally, there has been a notable decrease in the incidence of car accidents involving teenagers.
Health professionals have long advocated for adjusting school start times to better align with the sleep needs of adolescents. In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that schools adopt later start times, a stance echoed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2015. These organizations emphasize the importance of ensuring that teens receive adequate sleep to support their physical and educational development.
The call for change is gaining traction. Recently, the American Medical Association has also recommended later school start times, and a position paper in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine highlighted the advantages of this adjustment. Dr. Samuel Green, the lead author of the paper, notes, “Early school start times hinder adolescents from obtaining sufficient sleep on school nights. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to numerous issues, including diminished academic performance, increased depressive symptoms, and higher rates of vehicular accidents.”
In April, a conference organized by the non-profit Start School Later convened leading experts from diverse fields—including medicine, education, and economics—to strategize on how to advocate for later school start times. The consensus among speakers was clear: change needs to happen at the district and state levels.
While altering long-standing practices is often met with resistance, it’s vital to prioritize the sleep needs of our youth. It’s not just adults who experience fatigue; we shouldn’t impose the same exhaustion on our children. Fortunately, some school districts are beginning to recognize the adverse effects of early start times and are taking action. For example, my local school district in suburban Chicago has approved a two-year pilot program to shift its school hours from 7:30 a.m. to an 8:15 a.m. start time, set to commence in the 2023-24 school year.
Change may be challenging, but it is achievable. If the modifications result in enhanced physical, emotional, and academic well-being for our children, why wouldn’t we pursue them? Credit is due to my local school district for prioritizing the health of our students and to those across the country making similar strides. With continued advocacy from parents, educators, and health professionals, we can hope for a future where the sleep needs of teenagers are taken seriously.
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In summary, the urgent need for later school start times is underscored by compelling research and expert recommendations. As more districts begin to recognize the benefits of allowing students to sleep longer, we may finally see a shift in policy that prioritizes the health and well-being of our youth.
Keyphrase: “Later School Start Times”
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