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Kara Schoch

Prof. Stalbird

Eng 1201

11 April 2018

School Start Times

Most schools in the country start school early in the morning, however students would

perform academically better if schools started later. Sleep is very crucial for students, especially

as they get older. Just an hour can make all the difference. Sleep deprivation can lead to many

negative consequences. However, getting the right amount of sleep can have several benefits

come along with a full night’s rest, many of which lead to students performing better in school.

School times are pretty consistent around the country. For most schools it is common for

the school day to start around 7 in the morning and last about seven hours, ending around 2 in the

afternoon. This has been the usual school schedule for years now. However, recently there has

been a debate on whether or not schools should start later. Efforts have been made by

professionals, educators, students, parents, and legislatures for schools to start later. After

studying some sleep research, it was found that classes shouldn’t start any earlier than 8:30 in the

morning.

It has been proven that students perform better on test when school start times are

delayed. Finley Edwards wrote an article called, “Do Schools Begin Too Early” where he

explains his study he did on standardized testing of middle schoolers. In the experiment, he

observed the students overall performance with and without a one hour delay. After the

experiment was completed, Edwards compared the two standardized testing scores. According to
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the article, Edward states, “I find that delaying school start times by one hour … increases

standardized test scores by at least 2 percentile points in math and 1 percentile point in reading”

(Edwards 3).

Edwards noticed that student performed significantly better with the one hour delay than the

normal school start time. Edwards also stated that, “the effect is largest for students with

below-average test scores, suggesting that later start times would narrow gaps in student

achievement (Edwards 3). If schools were to start later, then student achievement would be more

successful. For students who don’t do so well on test, they would be able to grow and become

better students as a whole. This experiment’s purpose was to show that even the smallest thing,

such as an one hour delay, can cause such a big difference in a students academic performance.

Finley Edwards is a professional writer who has written several article over controversial

debates. After Edwards performed this study, school start times become another one of those

controversial articles. Like Finley Edwards, many other researchers have done studies of this

topic.

In Finley Edwards study, he proved that a later school start time increased the

standardized testing results. Standardized testing scores aren’t the only thing that increases from

a delayed school start time. Overall grades for students increase as well. As students get older,

homework gets harder and more excessive. Student’s also become more involved in events such

as sports and work. With these circumstances, student’s can be found staying up late at night

finishing homework or studying for a test. When students are then finished with homework, they

go to sleep to only be woken up a few hours later to repeat the process. Student’s don’t get the

recommended eight to ten hours of sleep for the brain to fully function and repeat the process all
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over again. “Kids need nine hours of sleep, and we can help them get to that goal by delaying

school start times” (Bakalar 6). Nicholas Bakalar wrote the article, “Starting School Later Really

Does Help Teens Get Sleep” explaining how a later school start time leads to better grades for

students. To perform well in school and earn good grades require students to be mentally

functionable, which is by getting full night’s rest. In the article, Bakalar studied students in the

Seattle District and tracked their sleep schedule with and without a delay in the school start time.

With the regular school start time, students got an average of about six hours and fifty minutes of

sleep per night. However with the one hour delayed school start time, students got an average of

about seven hours and twenty-four minutes. The change not only made students feel more

awake, but resulted in them increasing their overall grades in classes. In the article, Bakalar

states, “... the change was associated with a 4.5 percent increase in grades…” (Bakalar 5).

Bakalar’s study went on for two weeks and only saw improvement in grades. Along with

increased grades, an increase in attendance was also accounted for. “They also found an increase

in punctuality and attendance…” (Bakalar 5). Other studies have been recorded regarding

increase in student attendance with a delayed school start time.

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This visual shows a survey of parents, where a majority of them voted for the older grade levels

to start later than the younger grade levels. They agree with the fact that the older kids stay up

longer and are involved in more activities.

Since many schools have an early start time, several students tend to over sleep and are

tardy to school. When students stay up late the previous night, it is a challenge for them to get up

and get ready for school on time. It is also very easy for students to sleep right through their

alarm clocks. Patti Neighmond wrote the article, “Sleepless No More In Seattle- Later School

Start Times Pays Off For Teens” explaining how students have too busy of lives to get the proper

sleep they need. Neighmond states, “Many American teenagers try to put in a full day of school,

homework, after-school activities, sports and college prep on too little sleep” (Neighmond 1).

Neighmond wrote this article after looking over the findings of a researches at the University of

Washington who studied high schoolers before and after a delayed school start time. “This study
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showed a significant improvement in the sleep duration of students, all by delaying school start

times so they’re more in line with the natural wake-up times of adolescents...The study also

found an improvement in grades and a reduction in tardiness and absences” (Neighmond 5).

When students have more time to sleep in, they will have an easier time waking up in the

morning. Neighmond also included in the article that students all go through puberty at some

point in their life. “Once children reach puberty, their biological clock changes” (Neighmond 7).

Therefore, need more sleep because of the strange sleep patterns that occur. It has been proven

that a delayed school start time increases test scores, grades, and attendance. Along with these

benefits, comes health benefits.

A delayed school start time will help students perform better in school, but also benefit

their health. The National Sleep Foundation wrote an article, “School Start Time and Sleep”,

which explains the health benefits that a delayed school start time can have on a student as well.

The National Sleep Foundation in a nonprofit organization known for spreading the importance

of sleep for one’s health. The foundation states, “...later sleep and wake patterns among

adolescents are biologically determined; the natural tendency for teenagers is to stay up late at

night and wake up later in the morning” (1). As students get older and go through puberty their

bodies and brains are going to want to stay up late at night which will cause them to want to

sleep in in the morning. The article contains studies several data and research studies done by

experts. In one poll that the foundation conducted found that, “...60% of children under the age

of 18 complained about being tired during the day, according to their parents, and 15% said they

fell asleep at school during the year” (2). With a delayed school start time, students will be less

likely to be tired for fall asleep in their classes. The foundation also included a study conducted
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by the University of Minnesota. The study showed that students with a delayed school start time

were less depressed, unlikely to be tardy or absent, got better grades, became more alert drivers,

and less likely to become prone to metabolic and nutritional deficits like obesity. As time is

going on, the school start time topic is only getting hotter. “Thus far, individual schools or

districts in 19 states have pushed back their start times, and more than 100 school districts in an

additional 17 states are considering delaying their start times” (12). The National Sleep

Foundation has released several articles that explain the effects sleep has on a person.

This visual shows that a majority of the students felt more alert and awake in school when given

a delay. Since students are more alert, less students will fall asleep in class and improve their

grades.
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So far the benefits of a full night’s rest has been discussed, but what are the effects for a

lack of sleep? Another one of the National Sleep Foundation’s articles was called,

“Backgrounder: Later School Start Times” which explains the consequences sleep deprivation

has on the brain and body. Sleep deprivation is very common within students. Students should be

getting eight to ten hours of sleep a night, but instead are averaging around g six or so hours of

sleep per night. The National Sleep Foundation stated, “Teens are among those least likely to get

enough sleep; while they need on average 9 ¼ hours of sleep per night for optimal performance,

health and brain development…” (1). Without a full night’s rest, the brain while not have full

potential for success. Instead, students are at higher risk for health concerns. The foundation

states, “Young people who do not get enough sleep night after night carry a significant risk for

drowsy driving; emotional and behavioral problems such as irritability, depression, poor impulse

control and violence; health complaints; tobacco and alcohol use; impaired cognitive function

and decision-making; and lower overall performance in everything from academics to athletics”

(2). All of these symptoms from sleep deprivation are very severe and should be taken seriously.

The article also included an experiment about melatonin conducted by Brown University, which

explained that melatonin secretion occurs later on in adolescents as they grow; thus, making it

harder for them to go to sleep and harder for them to wake up because the melatonin has shut off.

The article is concluded by the statement, “Adolescent sleep deprivation is largely driven by a

conflict between teens’ internal biological clocks and the schedules and demands of society” (8).

The statement makes it clear that teens need more sleep because of their changing bodies and

their activities. The National Sleep Foundation isn’t the only source who did research and wrote

about the effects of sleep.

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Although sleep deprivation can cause behavioral and and mental issues, it can also cause

physical issues to arise. Amanda MacMillan is a professional writer who studied the impacts of

how school start times affect a student’s well-being. After doing a lot of research and talking to

actual doctors, Amanda decided to publish another article over what she had learned. MacMillan

wrote the article, “Teens May Do Better When School Starts Later” to explain how it is a proven

fact that student’s health are not in proper condition when schools have an early start time.

MacMillan states, “Chronic sleep loss among teenagers has been associated with poor school

performance and a higher risk for depression symptoms, obesity, cardiovascular problems,

risk-taking behaviors and athletic injuries, to name a few” (MacMillan 6). These effects are a big

problem in our country. Several kids are becoming more obese or getting injured easier in their

sport. One study that MacMillan included in the article was conducted by Journal of Clinical

Sleep Medicine. The study was over how delaying school start times and reduce the amount of

car accidents. MacMillan states, “...crash rates fell by 16.5% in the two years after a school

district shifted its start times an hour later, compared to the two years before” (MacMillan 7).

Delayed school start times won’t just help students improve grade, but actually save lives. If

lives are at risk then a change should be made.

Older children are the ones who are most affected by the school start times because of

their changing bodies. Jennifer A. Heissel wrote the article, “Rise and Shine: The Effect of

School Start Times on Academic Performance from Childhood through Puberty” explaining how

younger children should be the ones going to school early, while the older children should start

school later. This article can be found on the Sinclair Library database. Heissel states, “School

districts can improve performance while maintaining the current distribution of start times by
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moving clases earlier for younger children and later for older children” (Heissel 1). Younger

children do not need the extra hour of sleep because the go to sleep early and are not going

through puberty. Not much will change in their academic performance. Older children however,

will benefit from a simple one hour delay. Heissel states, “We find that moving start times one

hour later relative to sunrise increases test scores by 0.08 and 0.06 standard deviations for

adolescents in math and reading…” (Heissel 1). Heissel fund that sleep patterns are greatly

determined by the sunrise. Sunrise times vary across time zones. For this reason, schools should

start based on sunrise times because it has been proven to increase students scores.

A delayed school start time hasn’t just increased students grades and health in the United

States, but in several other countries too. Vedaa is a professional writer who wrote the article,

“School Start Time, Sleepiness and Functioning in Norwegian Adolescents” to explain how

school start times affected 10th grade students in Norway. The experiment studied students

reaction time tests, sleepiness, moods, and sleep patterns with a delayed school start time. Like

the United States, the researchers found that the Norwegian students had positive benefits from a

later start time. Vedaa states, “Later school start times may both lengthen nocturnal sleep and

increase students’ alertness in early morning classes” (Vedda 1). The experiment also showed

that the students performed better on the reaction time test. Although there are many benefits for

students with a delayed school start time, there are also drawbacks.

A later school start time is very beneficial for students. Students receive better grades,

perform better on test, less likely to be tardy, less tired, and most importantly; a better health. If

all schools were to push back school starting times, then what will be affected? Students are

relatively busy. They are involved in sports, clubs, have jobs, and a lot of homework. Amanda
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MacMillan in the article, “Teens May Do Better When School Starts Later” states, “It’s not

always an easy switch, however; schools must sometimes rejigger bus schedules, after-school

activities and sports programs” (MacMillan 8). If schools were to be later, students schedules

will be largely impacted. This can result in students becoming stressed, having little time for

homework, and staying up later. If students stay up later with the delayed school start time, then

it defeats the purpose of the later start time in the first place. The last thing a student needs in

their life is stress. Although a later school start time may take a toll on a student’s schedule, there

are still more pros than cons with having schools delayed.

This visual shows the pros and cons to a delayed school start time. Although a delayed school

start time as many benefits, there are still drawbacks that will result from it.

Studies done by experts and doctors have proven that schools should start later. There are

just so many benefits that come along with school starting later. Student’s will perform better in

school and actually want to go to school because they will be fully awake. Students will also be

in better health by reducing the risk of health concerns. Students need the extra sleep because of
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puberty. When children go through puberty, they whole sleep cycle gets messed up. They are

likely to stay up later at night and sleep in later in the morning. Too many children suffer from

sleep deprivation, which has many negative consequences on a students brain and body function.

These effects can be fixed by simply pushing school start times back. Overall, if school start

times started later, students academic performance will increase as well as their health.

Works Cited

Arbor, Ann. “Support for Sleeping in? Half of Parents Favor Later School Start Times for

Teens.” ​Support for Sleeping in? Half of Parents Favor Later School Start Times

for Teens | Michigan Medicine,​ 16 Feb. 2015,

www.uofmhealth.org/news/archive/201502/support-sleeping-half-parents-favor-la

ter-school-start-times.

Bakalar, Nicholas. “Starting School Later Really Does Help Teens Get Sleep.” ​Starting

School Later Really Does Help Teens Get Sleep​.

Downs, Gail C. ​On My Own Time: the Conflict between Adolescent Sleep Needs and

High School Start Times​. University of Maine College of Education & Human

Development, 2001.
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Edwards, Finley. “Do Schools Begin Too Early?” ​Education Next​, 19 Feb. 2019,

www.educationnext.org/do-schools-begin-too-early/.

Heissel, Jennifer A. “Rise and Shine: The Effect of School Start Times on Academic

Performance from Childhood through Puberty.” ​Sinclair College Off-Campus

Authentication Form​,

eds-b-ebscohost-com.sinclair.ohionet.org/eds/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=3db1d7e5-

260a-4e51-921e-07d4e0e4e8f4%40sdc-v-sessmgr04&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzL

WxpdmU%3D#AN=edspmu.S1548800418400033&db=edspmu.

“HISD to Standardize School Start Times for the 2018-19 School Year.” ​News Blog,​

blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/01/10/hisd-to-standardize-school-start-times-for-

the-2018-19-school-year/.

“Later School Start Times: Benefits & Cons.” ​National Sleep Foundation,​

www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/backgrounder-later-school-start-times.

MacMillan, Amanda, director. ​Teens May Do Better When School Starts Later​. ​Time​,

Time, 17 Apr. 2017, time.com/4741147/school-start-time/.

masoninthemiddle. “RECENT TWO-HOUR DELAY SPARKS SCHOOL START TIME

DEBATE.” ​Mason in the Middle​, 2 Feb. 2018,

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masoninthemiddle.wordpress.com/2018/02/02/recent-two-hour-delay-sparks-scho

ol-start-time-debate/.

Neighmond, Patti. “Sleepless No More In Seattle - Later School Start Time Pays Off For

Teens.” ​NPR​, NPR, 12 Dec. 2018,

www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/12/676118782/sleepless-no-more-in-s

eattle-later-school-start-time-pays-off-for-teens.

“School Start Time & Sleep.” ​National Sleep Foundation​,

www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/school-start-time-and-sleep.

Smajstrla, Ann, and Cox Media Group National Content Desk. “Study: Later School Start

Time Means More Sleep, Better Grades.” ​Daytondailynews,​ Staff Writer, 13 Dec.

2018,

www.daytondailynews.com/news/national/study-later-school-start-time-means-m

ore-sleep-better-grades/B7V7p1zqLqiXndHGxtyvWJ/.

Vedaa. “School Start Time, Sleepiness and Functioning in Norwegian Adolescents.”

Sinclair College Off-Campus Authentication Form,​

eds-b-ebscohost-com.sinclair.ohionet.org/eds/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=edd6f00b-e

385-4d3f-8256-a5df4f1bfb74%40sdc-v-sessmgr04&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLW

xpdmU%3D#AN=EJ953895&db=eric.