Dive Brief:
- A new report from the CDC find 40 states, which have 75% of the public schools in United States, have a start time earlier than what is recommended for teenagers, who tend to fall asleep later at night and wake up later in the morning.
- The Huffington Post reports research supporting the positive effects of having earlier start times in schools is not existent.
- Only one out of every three high school students sleeps for eight hours or more during the week, the CDC reported, which has remained constant since 2007.
Dive Insight:
Districts have long wrestled with the issue of when to start classes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report earlier in 2015 advocating for later start times, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has called for change. Other studies, like one from the University of Minnesota, found that later start times could lead to significant health, safety and academic improvements.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine's publication "Sleep" has reported a proven link exists between early high school start times, disciplinary problems and tardiness for students. Seattle will mandate all public high schools to open after 8:30 a.m. as of next fall, and other districts are eyeing similar moves. In Fairfax, VA, high school start times have been pushed to 8:00 a.m.