- Sleep deprivation: Teenagers need more sleep than adults, but early school start times can make it difficult for them to get enough. Starting school later would allow them to get more sleep and improve their overall health and well-being.
- Academic performance: Some studies have found that later school start times are associated with improved academic performance. This is likely due to several factors, including increased sleep, reduced stress, and improved concentration.
- Attendance and tardiness: Students who start school later are less likely to be absent or tardy. This means they can take advantage of all learning opportunities and are more likely to succeed.
- Social and emotional benefits: Students who attend schools with later start times report lower levels of stress and depression and higher levels of happiness and well-being. They also tend to be more involved in extracurricular activities and have healthier relationships with their peers and teachers.
- Improved student safety Later start times can also improve student safety. When schools start later, students are less likely to be walking or biking to school in the dark, which reduces their risk of being involved in accidents.
Arguments against starting school later in the morning:
- Inconvenience for parents and childcare: Parents who work early or who have younger children may find it difficult to adjust their schedules to accommodate a later start time. This could lead to increased costs for childcare or transportation.
- Scheduling conflicts: A later school start time could conflict with other activities, such as sports practices, music lessons, or tutoring sessions. This could make it difficult for students to participate in these activities.
- Increased traffic and congestion: A later school start time could lead to increased traffic and congestion on the roads, as more cars are on the road at the same time. This could make it difficult for students and parents to get to school on time.
- Loss of instructional time: A later school start time would mean that schools would have less time for instruction. This could lead to reduced curriculum coverage or shorter class periods.
- Increased cost to schools: Starting school later would require schools to make adjustments to their schedules and facilities, which could increase costs.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to start school later in the morning is a complex one that must be made by each individual school district. There are advantages and disadvantages to both sides of the issue, and it is important to weigh these carefully before making a decision.