Why school should start later

It is a terrific example of building a Culture of Health. Teton, Fairfax, and other school districts moving to later starts are putting health at the center of all policy decisions, even those outside a traditional definition of health and health care. We know better now. This one example touches motor vehicle safety, equity, and academic success, which can lead to a lifetime of improved health outcomes. Congratulations to Fairfax, Teton, and the dozens of other school districts that have moved toward later starts.

To find out if later school start times could help build a Culture of Health in your community, contact your school superintendent or school board representative. Ask if they have considered moving middle school and high school start times to a. Visit www. Tracy Costigan, PhD, is responsible for the Foundation's organizational learning and coordinating institutional knowledge in support of effective and responsive strategies and programs.

Read her full bio. Tracy Orleans, PhD, leads the Foundation's efforts to develop and disseminate science-based strategies for addressing the major behavioral causes of preventable death and chronic disease. We will take a look at many good reasons why schools should start later, for the benefit of students and society as a whole. We also tried to figure out why schools start so early, which we will touch on at the end.

Medical professionals, middle and high school teachers , and other student advocates have long argued that school start times are simply too early. There is a natural biological tendency for teens to stay up late and want to sleep in. Physicians recommend teens get at least 8. As far back as , a member of Congress introduced a resolution to make school start times later.

Many opponents, such as physical education teachers , cite after school extracurricular activities as one of the reasons why schools should start before Sure, later starts might cut in to some practice time. Youth screen media habits and sleep: Sleep-friendly screen behavior recommendations for clinicians, educators, and parents.

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Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. Is Homeschooling Right for Your Family? Best Debit Cards for Teens of This is slightly later than high schools. The middle school start times varied widely, too, depending on the state.

This study also noted the start time for combined middle and high schools; the average was a. Both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that both middle and high schools begin no earlier than a. Both organizations want to ensure students get adequate sleep so that they are alert and prepared to learn at school. Biology plays a large factor in the sleep cycles of children and adolescents. As a result, the average teenager cannot fall asleep until p.

A later school start time helps accommodate this biological need. Other factors that affect student sleep are cultural expectations. American middle and high school students often take on various extracurricular activities — such as sports, clubs, and jobs — which often extend into the evening hours. High school students also have more homework, late-night technology use, and fewer parent-set bedtimes, all of which may cause students to stay up later than is appropriate for getting adequate sleep.

Countless studies have shown that early school start times are associated with students getting less sleep, which negatively affects student academic performance.

Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades. They may also experience irritability and fatigue. A lack of sleep also has long-term physical and mental health consequences. Poor quantity and quality of sleep can lead to health concerns such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.

Later school start times support the biological needs of adolescents; they increase the amount of sleep adolescents get. Other benefits of later start times include:. While there are numerous benefits of later school start times, there are a few possible negative outcomes:. Eric Suni has over a decade of experience as a science writer and was previously an information specialist for the National Cancer Institute. She specializes in helping parents establish healthy sleep habits for children.

With less rigid schedules during summer break, kids tend to face sleep disruptions. Help your kids avoid summer sleep troubles….