Superintendents sound off on proposed bill calling for study on later school start times
Under a sunrise cloaked by fog, third-grader Katie Weaver heads toward her school bus in Ormond Beach, Fla. A proposed bill calls for a study on the effects of later school starting times for public high schools. (Photo by the Associated Press)
Sears
Brownsville Superintendent Dr. Keith Hartbauer
Menhart
Bezjak
Area administrators expressed support for a proposed bill that calls for a study on the effects of later starting times to the school day in public high schools.
Legislation introduced last month in the state House of Representatives would require the state Department of Education to examine the pros and cons of instituting a later start to the school day.
The proposed study would assess the health, academic and safety benefits associated with later start times, as well as evaluate potential negative impacts on school districts and families.
House Bill 1912, sponsored by Rep. Alex Charlton (R-Delaware County), cites recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics to move start times for middle and high schools to 8:30 a.m. or later to allow students to receive the recommended amount of sleep.
The overwhelming majority of high schools and middle schools in the U.S. start before that time, according to a 2014 survey.
California Area High School begins classes at 7:45 a.m., operating on a schedule that has remained the same for years, said district Superintendent Michael Sears.
“That’s not to say you can’t reevaluate the start times for the secondary and elementary students and determine if there is a more optimal time to start school for those age groups,” said Sears.
In a memo released prior to the introduction of the bill, Charlton cited research from several health organizations that states adolescents who do not get enough sleep are more likely to suffer from physical and mental health problems, are at an increased risk of being involved in an automobile accident and are more likely to decline in academic performance.
Administrators said a change in start times could lead to more alert students and less truancy in their districts.
Carmichaels Area Superintendent John Menhart said he has noticed a cultural shift in teenagers’ sleeping patterns to stay awake to later hours, and that adjusting start times could benefit them.
“Today’s youth clock has shifted,” he said. “Early to bed, early to rise has gone by the wayside. I think it would be beneficial to get students in (to school) a little later.”
While superintendents spoke in favor of the proposed study, actual implementation of later start times would pose logistical issues regarding transportation and extracurricular activities, they said.
“It all has to be factored into the equation,” said Sears. “You would have to sit down and look at all the variables.”
Menhart said while research shows benefits to students’ physical health and academic performance from later start times, it would create a scheduling issue for a small district like Carmichaels that relies on two morning bus runs for elementary and high school students.
“The research I’ve seen says it would be beneficial, but from a logistics standpoint, it would be difficult,” Menhart said.
In a large, rural district like Albert Gallatin, buses begin to pick up students at 6 a.m. for a 7:30 start time, said Superintendent Carl Bezjak. Later start times would allow students to get more sleep in the morning, he said, which is needed especially by those who work evening jobs or participate in extracurricular activities.
“Every district is different. You have to look and see what works for you, for the students and for the community,” said Brownsville Area Superintendent Dr. Keith Hartbauer, adding that he likes the idea of later start times based on their purported benefits but echoed other superintendents on the potential transportation and scheduling conflicts that could arise.
“From a health standpoint, from an academic standpoint and the safety of students, this needs to be researched and looked into, but maybe it should go across board for all school districts,” Hartbauer said of the potential implementation of a later start time.