Schools in California to Start at a Later Time
Beginning this fall, high schools in California can't start before 8:30 a.m. and middle schools can't start before 8 a.m., as part of a 2019 first-in-the-nation law.
Advocates say young people do better at school when they're more alert, and predict other benefits, including a drop in teen car accidents and better physical and mental health.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average start time for US high schools was 8 a.m. in 2017-18. About 42% started before then, including 10% that began classes before 7:30 a.m.
Middle school start times in 2011-12, the most recent from the NCES, were similar.
Scientists say that's too early for teens whose bodies prefer a later bed time than other ages because of a later release of the sleep hormone melatonin.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 13- to 18-year-olds should get between eight and 10 hours of sleep per night.
Some people are against the time changes. Orange County Superintendent of Schools Al Mijares said in 2019 that while the changes would be easy for some families, other parents — especially from working class and single-parent families — might not be able to change their workday to take their children to school at a later time.
Joy Wake, part of the Start School Later group in California, said it's impossible to start school at a time that works with everyone's schedules, "but you can pick a time that doctors say is healthier and safer for teenage kids."
1. What time do schools start where you live? Do you think they should start later?
2. Did you often stay up late when you were a teenager?
3. Did you ever have trouble staying alert in class as a teen?
4. How did you get to school when you were a middle and high school student?
5. How many hours of sleep do you usually get per night?
6. How have your sleep patterns changed as you've gotten older?
7. Are the people in your household generally early or late risers?
8. If it were up to you, what time would you start work or school each day?