Later Start Time In Schools

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Progressing through the educational system, it seems that my precious hours of sleep are cut shorter and shorter due to the increasingly early start time of school. Each morning of freshman and sophomore year, it took everything I had to prepare myself for the long day ahead. All of this changed, however, as junior year rolled around and the school district implemented late start days. Starting school two hours later, even for only twice a month, gave me a reason to once again look forward to coming to school. On late start mornings, students seem to be happier and more productive in their endeavors. The only downside to this is that classes are so short that teachers do not have time to meaningfully utilize the newfound academic enthusiasm. …show more content…
In a study performed by the University of Minnesota which analyzed 9,000 students across three states, data found that “attendance and academic performance in math, English, science, and social studies classes improved at schools with later start times.” Allowing students to sleep in a few extra hours further resulted in less “tardiness, substance abuse, and symptoms of depression” (Walker). Although these schools observed only delayed their start times by 90 minutes, they still saw dramatic improvements in the overall achievements of their students. By shifting the beginning of the school day from 7:20 to 9:20, the Wentzville School District would see a measurable increase in the mental health of their students; the additional two hours of sleep would grant adolescents less time for anxiety attacks and more time for studying, thus raising their grades in all core classes. These benefits are not limited to average teenagers; Start School Later suggests that “starting school at times more in sync with with the sleep needs of students” can increase the intellectual achievements of disadvantaged students in quantities twice as high as those without disabilities or other personal hindrances. This will bridge the gap between students performing at exceptional levels and those that do not currently meet state standards. The positive changes in the academic performance of students that begin school between 8 and 9AM stem from …show more content…
The Wentzville school district extended teenagers a favor by implementing delayed start days, however, they are losing precious class time due to the shortened periods. Teachers feel as if they cannot accomplish a considerable amount of work during 30 minute classes, leaving students to sit idle until the next bell rings. This unfortunate downside can be avoided by altering the schedule to operate in halves with students and teachers meeting every other day for extended lengths of time. Block scheduling allows for more productive late start days and leaves students with “more time for reflection and less information to process over the course of a school day” (Research Spotlight). If students are responsible for learning less new material throughout the day, they are permitted more time to evenly distribute studying between their classes and will better retain the information come time for quiz or test. Adolescents would likewise see a decline in the amount of “quizzes, tests, and homework assignments” presented to them due to their minimized daily course load (Advantages and Disadvantages). Piling less homework upon students permits them with more free time to wind down and prepare for the following day. Student athletes and active club members benefit as well from this switch because they are able to actively participate in their
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