School Start Times

Political Initiatives

Government officials are involved in school start time, too!

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren has introduced a bill (H.R. 1267) called the “Zs to As Act.” This bill would provide grants to local educational agencies that agree to begin school for secondary students after 9 in the morning. More information is available at Congresswoman Lofgren’s web site.

The state government of Connecticut has been exploring the issue. A pending bill (now withdrawn) would have the effect of preventing schools from starting before 8:30 a.m. For more information on Connecticut Senate Bill No. 14, visit their web site.

Political Initiatives

Adolescent Sleep, Health, and School Start Times National Conference

Research Council Report

Minnesota Experience

The Kappan

Foundation Report

Adolescent Sleep, Health, and School Start Times National Conference

This first-of-its-kind conference will be occurring April 27-28, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Among other notable speakers, Dr. Mary Carskadon, PhD, will be presenting a talk entitled “Developmental Changes to Sleep Biology Affect Adolescent Sleep.” For more information, visit their website!

What!?! You struggle to wake up for school in the morning? You are not alone.

The Sleep for Science research on teens, sleep patterns, and the circadian timing system has highlighted reasons why teens are challenged by early school start. Others have begun to study this issue, and many school districts in the USA and as far distant from our lab as Israel have begun to explore the possibility of moving the school bell later.

We highlight below a few resources that explore the issues.

National Research Council Conference Report

In the autumn of 1999, the National Research Council of the National Academy of Science held a conference on “Sleep Needs, Patterns, and Difficulties of Adolescents.” The report of this conference is available at their web site.

Dr. Kyla Wahlstrom of the University of Minnesota

Dr. Kyla Wahlstrom’s group at the University of Minnesota has been involved in pertinent research that examines factors to take into account when changing the school bell and results that ensue when a change is made. This information is available at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) web site.

Articles in the Phi Delta Kappan

Several articles on the topic of teen sleep and education were published in the Phi Delta Kappan, a journal for educators. These are also available in a small volume. Additional information may be available from the Kappan.

Sleep Foundation Report

The National Sleep Foundation has published a report about teen sleep that reviews the science and gives ideas for issues to consider when thinking of changing the school bell. This report can be downloaded from the Foundation’s web site where you click below the bed to get to the report.