School districts in at least 21 states plan to delay morning bells this year according to the national non-profit Start School Later (SSL). Topping the list are 5 districts in Ohio, 5 in Pennsylvania, and 4 in Massachusetts.
“Every year, we see more districts moving bell times back to more reasonable hours in response to the research,” observes SSL’s Executive Director Terra Ziporyn Snider, PhD. “Health professionals have been telling us for years that teenagers cannot get healthy sleep when they have to wake at 5 or 6 a.m. for class. It’s gratifying to see so many communities prioritizing student health and safety by turning these recommendations into school policy.”
The many organizations calling for later start times include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and (with endorsement by both the National Education Association and National PTA) the Society for Behavioral Medicine. All of these groups recommend that middle and high schools start class no earlier than 8:30 a.m. While not every district delaying bell times this year meets this goal, notes Snider, all are moving to schedules that are healthier and safer for many more students.
Districts announcing plans to start school later for the 2018/2019 school year include, by state:
California: Francis Parker, San Diego USD, Vallejo City
Colorado: Boulder Valley, Fort Collins (Poudre School District), Mesa County Valley
Connecticut: Rocky Hill
Delaware: Christina School District
Florida: Pinellas County, Volusia County
Illinois: Woodland District 50
Indiana: Concord, Noblesville, Westfield Washington
Massachusetts: Belmont, Mashpee, Scituate, Wayland
Minnesota: Brooklyn Center School District, St. Paul, Westonka
Mississippi: Oxford School District
Missouri: Affton School District
New York: Katonah-Lewisboro, Webster Central
Ohio: Ashtabula, Brecksville-Broadville Heights City Schools, Cincinnati, Mason City, North Ridgefield
Oklahoma: Bixby Public Schools
Oregon: Bend, Centennial School District
Pennsylvania: Phoenixville, Pines-Richland, Radnor, South Middletown, Tredyffrin/Easttown
Rhode Island: Barrington
Tennessee: Wilson County
Texas: San Angelo ISD
Washington: Anacortes, Tacoma, Walla Walla
Wisconsin: Big Foot, Madison
While no private or government group officially tracks U.S. school start times, SSL regularly watches progress toward healthier school-day start times and provides support to communities making these changes. To learn more about the research and success stories, visit SSL’s website at www.startschoollater.net .