Dive Brief:
- Starting next school year, all Seattle public high schools will open after 8:30 a.m, in accordance with research from the American Academy of Pediatrics that says later start times are better for student learning and health.
- The CDC says that the average school start time in the U.S. for middle and high schools is currently 8:03 a.m., the Huffington Post reports.
- Sharon Peaslee, vice-president of the school board, called the move “historic,” since Seattle will be the largest district to push start times back.
Dive Insight:
Multiple studies have proven that teens need more sleep, and that chronic "sleep debt" leads to poor learning. Extra rest also has emotional benefits as well.
For those schools trying out a later starting time, hurdles have emerged. In North Carolina, later start times are reportedly straining families by complicating scheduling of sports and other "logistical hurdles." Some districts aren't abiding by the 8:30 a.m recommendation, instead pushing times back by less. In Fairfax, VA, high school starting times are now 8:00 a.m.
Only a few districts around the U.S. have actually pushed back their start times, The Huffington Post reports. Among all states, Louisiana currently boasts the earliest average start time for public high schools: 7:40 a.m.