Let Kids Sleep Longer: California's Law on Making School Start Times Later, a First in the Country

Great news for California students as alarm clocks can be set longer in the mornings, thanks to a landmark law that makes school start times later.

California just became the first state to order later school starts. Senate Bill 328, "Pupil Attendance: School Start Time," requires the school day for middle and high schools to begin no earlier than 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM, respectively, including those operated as charter schools, effective on the first of July 2022.

According to Lisa Lewis, parenting journalist and the author of the book "The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teens Are So Tired, And How Parents And Schools Can Help Them Thrive," this California law is the first in the country that has set the minimum allowed start times for middle and high schools.

Enough sleep is a 'public health imperative'

"We know, based on years of study, that shifting to healthy start times is a proven way to make a difference," the parenting journalist stressed. She further stated that ensuring students get enough sleep is a "public health imperative."

Brigham and Women's Hospital's neuroscientist and Harvard Medical School's associate professor, Steven Lockley, strongly agreed. He explained to Today's Parents that starting school at 8:00 AM and up guarantees that students, specifically the teens, can be deprived of sleep as their circadian clocks and sleep regulation systems will "naturally push sleep" to a later time. This will result in going to sleep early enough to get the right amount of sleep before going to school harder.

Lockley co-authored the research done in the U.K. that showed the benefits of a 10:00 AM start time on children and teens' exam results and sickness. The study found that enough sleep and good sleep are necessary for alertness, good performance, better learning, and good health.

Sleep and learning go hand in hand. Longer and better sleep will improve learning during daytime at school and the learning that happens during sleep, which causes better attention. In the long run, parents will see grades and mental health improving, fewer sick days and car accidents on the drive to school, and less risk-taking in students who sleep longer.

Thus, the neuroscientist and professor proclaimed that California's law is a huge and correct leap to having students who, for sure, will have evident improvements in sleep, learning, and holistic health.

Read Also: School Start Time Changes: Concerns Raised Over Time-Shift; Pros And Cons To Starting Classes At 7 AM.

California Law should be a 'National Initiative"

Lockley expressed that the California law should be a "national initiative," and there should be no delay in implementing it so that all children and parents from all states can experience its benefits and advantages.

Lewis hoped the same. She is expectant that California can set the bar for more states to follow suit, especially since recent and ongoing bills in New York and New Jersey are in the same line of action.

Adaption and adjustments of schools from other states will not be difficult since there are already proven templates for other schools to follow. School Start Later, a non-profit organization, which aims to increase public awareness about the relationship between and co-existence of sleep and school hours, and to ensure school start times are compatible with and positively affect student's health, safety, education, and equity, not only can provide these templates and guidance but are willing to journey with the school to grow better and healthy students, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Lockley also stressed that this law would only entail a slight cost in building educational attainment for students as compared to different strategies being done these days, such as smaller class sizes or longer school days or semesters. Moreover, the new schedule may affect other school activity schedules like sports programs and others, but these are supposed to be secondary to ensuring that students are learning well without hampering their well-being.

Related Article: Are Later School Start Times Beneficial To Teens?