Is it time to hit snooze on secondary school start times?

Should the Renton School District Change Secondary School Start Times? Exploring the controversy of school start times BY YOUR FRIENDLY 7 TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHERS

What’s the Problem? New research has schools in a bind: start school later for academics, or… keep the status quo to save money and maintain after school activities?

Should the Renton School District Change Secondary School Start Times? Reasons for Changing School Start Times Adequate Sleep for Teens which Increases Health and Concentration ◦According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), teens who do not get nine to ten hours of sleep a night increase their risks of being overweight, suffering from depression, and their academics may suffer (Walker).

Should the Renton School District Change Secondary School Start Times? Reasons for Changing School Start Times Increased Learning ◦A 2014 study from the University of Minnesota found students at high schools with later start times saw improved attendance and performance in English, math, science, and Social Studies (Walker)

Should the Renton School District Change Secondary School Start Times? Reasons for Changing School Start Times Better Behavior ◦For example at Edina High School near Minneapolis, schools starts at 8:30 am. Counselors and nurses reported fewer students were needing help with emotional problems and physical complaints (Walker 8). ◦Also, 92% of Edina parents reported that, “their children were easier to live with.” (Walker)

(Walker) Getting enough sleep matters!

Should the Renton School District Change Secondary School Start Times? Reasons against Changing School Start Times Cost ◦Lubbock ISD in Texas estimates they will save more than a million dollars by starting some schools prior to 8:00am (Anderson). ◦In Virginia, Suffolk Public Schools predicts by starting some schools at 7:25 am they can save $680,000 annually (Anderson).

Should the Renton School District Change Secondary School Start Times? Reasons against Changing School Start Times Busing ◦Not every student lives within walking distance or has someone who can drive them. Schools save 30% on transportation costs by starting campuses earlier and staggering when schools start time within a district. Bus drivers can then drive multiple routes (Anderson).

Should the Renton School District Change Secondary School Start Times? Reasons against Changing School Start Times Safety-Walking in the Dark ◦Kristen Amundson is the executive director of the National Association of State Boards of Education used to be a school board member in Virginia. She says the reason younger students who wake up earlier can’t start school earlier is because, “There were exactly zero of us who were prepared to have five year-olds on the street in the dark” (Weissmann).

Should the Renton School District Change Secondary School Start Times? KEY POINTS - FOR  Adequate sleep for teens which increases health and concentration  Increased learning  Better behavior KEY POINTS - AGAINST  Cost  Busing  Safety-Returning home after dark

Why you should care… The consequences of sleep deprivation for youth are clear, yet kids still aren’t getting enough sleep. A recent survey by the CDC found that, “on week nights, as few as 14 percent of teens get enough zzz’s” (Hutson). Schools around the country need to closely consider the possibility of moving to a later start time in order to lessen the negative impacts on academics. Can schools and families find a compromise to this fraught topic?

Bibliography Anderson, Marie. What is the advantage of having school start early? Hutson, Matthew. Hey you! Wake up! Walker, Tim. NEA Today. Weissman, Dan. High school will keep starting too early. Here’s why.