Mornings in our household, like many across the country, tend to be a bit, let’s say, hectic. We juggle lunches, search for lost shoes, and navigate everyone’s less-than-enthusiastic morning moods. Luckily, my children don’t need to be at school until 9 a.m., sparing us from the chaos of early wake-up calls. However, this is not the case for many families. For instance, my niece’s elementary school begins at 7:45 a.m., and most middle and high schools nationwide also start before 8 a.m. This means students often leave home before 7 a.m., waking up while it’s still dark outside—a grueling routine, especially for teenagers.
Parents are not the only ones concerned about early school start times. Sleep specialists and health professionals have long recognized the negative impact of making teenagers rise before dawn. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that teens require 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night, but their biological clocks differ from those of younger children, making it difficult for them to fall asleep early. As adolescents age, they tend to sleep later yet still face early school start times, leaving them perpetually fatigued.
The consequences of this chronic sleep deprivation extend beyond mere tiredness; it negatively affects their academic performance as well. Numerous studies have demonstrated that delaying school start times can lead to improved attendance rates, higher test scores, and better overall grades. Additionally, schools that have shifted to later start times report reductions in tardiness, substance abuse, and depression symptoms among students. Some districts even noted a drop in teen car accidents.
For years, health professionals have advocated for a reevaluation of school start times. In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics urged schools to consider later start times, followed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2015, who echoed these recommendations. They stressed the importance of allowing adolescents enough sleep to foster their physical and educational growth.
The call for change is gaining traction, supported by recent endorsements from organizations like the American Medical Association, which recommended later school start times for adolescents. A position statement released in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine confirmed the benefits of such adjustments, stating, “Early school start times make it difficult for adolescents to get sufficient sleep on school nights, and chronic sleep loss among teens is associated with a host of problems, including poor school performance, increased depressive symptoms, and motor vehicle accidents,” explained Dr. Nathaniel Watson, the statement’s lead author.
Recently, the non-profit organization Start School Later hosted a conference in Washington, D.C., bringing together leading sleep experts, school administrators, educators, and policymakers from around the globe to advocate for prioritizing the sleep health of children. The conference emphasized the need for advocacy to begin at the district and state levels.
Change can be daunting, with many clinging to the “this is how it’s always been” mentality. However, just because adults often feel exhausted doesn’t mean our children should have to endure the same fate. There is always room for improvement as our understanding evolves.
Fortunately, some school districts are starting to recognize the detrimental effects of early start times. My local school district in suburban Chicago recently approved a two-year pilot program to shift the school day from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., extending it to 3:10 p.m. Changes were made by slightly shortening class periods and lunch durations, demonstrating that change is possible.
If these adjustments can enhance our children’s physical, emotional, and academic well-being, why not embrace them? Hats off to my local school district for prioritizing our children’s health and to other schools across the country making similar strides. With continued advocacy from parents, healthcare providers, and other supporters, we can hope to see more schools acknowledge the importance of adequate sleep for teens.
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In summary, the need for later school start times is increasingly backed by research and advocacy. It’s essential for the well-being of our children and their educational success. Parents and communities must unite to push for these changes, ensuring our teens receive the rest they need.