What time did your school start growing up? Depending on the state you grew up in, that answer would probably be around 8am, but could be as early as 7:30.
For an adult, starting a college course or job in the early morning is no big deal. But for kids and teenagers, being expected to wake up early to start school often does more harm than good.
Teens are also "hardwired" to stay up later than kids or older adults, because their bodies release melatonin (the hormone that regulates sleep) later, usually around 11pm.
Teens' brains don't really start to be alert until after 8am, which is another factor that makes early school start times less than ideal.
The law, which was passed in 2019 but didn't officially take effect until July 1st, 2022, requires schools to start no earlier than 8:30 am for high schoolers, and 8:00 for middle school.
Studies have shown that that single half hour can lead to more teens getting eight or more hours of sleep every night, which is pretty amazing.
Further research shows that a later school start time could lead to up to 70% fewer teen car crashes compared to schools that start a half hour earlier.
Being able to get enough sleep is important for teenage development. It means better performance in sports and academics, as well as being mentally and emotionally healthier, which is pretty important in such an emotional time like high school.
Twenty-two states have attempted to introduce laws that would regulate later start times for middle and high schools, though it seems that California is the only state that has been successful so far.
Arguments against pushing school start times back include scheduling for families, re-working bus routes, and other disruptions that may have some kind of impact on kids and their households.
The New Jersey School Boards Association, for example, believe it should be up to the schools to determine the time classes start, not the state.
Now, if only schools could implement other strategies to make sure students can get adequate sleep, such as limiting the amount of homework kids have to take home (which can add up and take hours to complete).
What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
