This page will keep you informed of the progress being made to change school start time in Chesterfield County. It was recently announced that the Chesterfield School Board is considering changing school start time! The School Board has considered this issue several times in the past, but always heard from more community members opposed than from those of us who support changing the school start times. Research clearly demonstrates the many benefits of a later school start time. In the past, when the Board had considered this, they heard from many parents opposed to the idea. It's important for those of us who support a later start time, to make our voices heard. School Start Times and Children’s Well-Being
Sleep Affects Academic Performance
• Sleep and academic performance are strongly related and the link strengthens as children age.
• Sleep is specifically linked to: test performance, GPA, and attention.
• Delaying school start time has led to increases in academic performance equal to improving teacher quality by one standard deviation.
• Districts that have moved start times later also report less absenteeism and tardiness, lower dropout rates, and higher student motivation. Sleep Affects Physical and Mental Health
• Sleep deprivation elevates levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is associated with diabetes and other metabolic problems, and with nutritional deficiencies and obesity.
• Adolescents who get less than 8 hours of sleep per night report double the rate of clinical depression compared with peers who sleep more, and are more likely to abuse alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Why Focus on Adolescents?
• The circadian rhythm changes during puberty—so teens have a much harder time going to sleep earlier, even if they want to! (Adolescents release melatonin about 90 minutes later than younger children and adults).
• The maturation of the endocrine system causes teens to fall asleep later and wake up later. They still need about 9-9.5 hours of sleep, but don’t feel tired until around 11pm.
• Studies show teens sleep longer when their schools start later, easing concerns that they will simply use later start times to delay bedtime.
• Given these data, since 2008, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended high schools start later. Sleep Deprivation is a Basic Safety Issue
• Young adults are involved in 50,000+ car crashes annually caused by falling asleep at the wheel.
• A 2010 study conducted in Virginia Beach (where HS starts at 7:20) and Chesapeake (start time: 8:40) found that rates of teen accidents were 40% higher in VA Beach.
• In counties where school times were moved later, teen accident rates dropped significantly. What Other Districts have Done:
• Edina MN: Changed HS start time from 7:20 to 8:30. o Test scores improved. o Students reported higher motivation and lower depression. o Initially, parents expressed concern about the effect of the change on issues such as sports and child care for younger siblings. At the end of the first year of implementation, 92% of parents preferred the later start times for teens.
• Minneapolis Public Schools: Changed start time from 7:15 to 8:40. o Resulted in a significant reduction in school dropout rates, less depression, and better grades. Teachers reported students were more alert;… Parents reported their teens’ emotions were better regulated. o Behaviors improved; less disciplinary referrals to principals.
• Lexington, KY: made start time 1 hour later. o Results: car accidents involving teen drivers decreased 25%.
• Arlington, VA, Loudon County, VA (have also made changes successfully)
Challenges:
• Bus costs: if all 3 school levels change, costs can be contained or change can be cost-neutral. In one district, the change actually saved money.
• Sports: have to have coaches involved in the discussion; one district found that they could push back the start time and still get out at about the same time because they reduced the amount of passing time between classes.
• Parents and childcare: Involve parents in discussions with school board.
• Studies found that teens participated in as many activities once the time was shifted later. Of the 95 counties in Virginia, 72 start high schools at 8:00 am or later. PLEASE NOTE: This page will be a positive forum for like-minded Chesterfield parents, teachers, and residents who support shifting the school start schedule. We are NOT here to criticize the school system, rather to support the proposed changes that are being considered. Personal attacks and overly negative comments will be deleted. Resources:
http://schoolstarttime.org/
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/school-start-time-and-sleep
http://www.cehd.umn.edu/research/highlights/Sleep/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/03/school-sleep-student-performance_n_1472440.html
http://www.icsd.k12.ny.us/redistricting/startend/OtherSchoolsSummary10-05.pdf
https://bearspace.baylor.edu/J_West/www/CarrellMaghakianWest.pdf
http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2011/09/organization-jacob-rockoff
Nurtureshock: New thinking about children. (Bronson & Merryman, 2011)
