Why starting school at 8 a.m. (or earlier) is bad for students – al.com

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What time do your kids have to get up for school?

A recent study by the

indicates teenagers aren’t getting enough sleep. One of the factors contributing to the tired generation is the early start time for schools.

Let’s talk about that:

What the study shows

The CDC looked at the average school start time and how it affects the amount of sleep pre-teens and adolescents are receiving. They found fewer than one in five middle and high schools start their days at 8:30 a.m. or later.

What’s magical about 8:30 a.m.?

That’s the earliest school should start, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“The research is clear that adolescents who get enough sleep have a reduced risk of being overweight or suffering depression, are less likely to be involved in automobile accidents, and have better grades, higher standardized test scores and an overall better quality of life,” Dr. Judith Owens said. “Studies have shown that delaying early school start times is one key factor that can help adolescents get the sleep they need to grow and learn.”

When do most schools get started?

Of America’s 39,700 public middle and high schools, the average start time was 8:03 a.m. The data is from the 2011-2012 years.

And what about Alabama schools?

Turns out we’re even earlier. The average start time for Alabama middle and high schools was 7:49 a.m. That’s earlier than all but six other states. The earliest average start time is Louisiana at 7:40 a.m.

So can’t kids just go to bed earlier?

That may not do enough to solve the problem, the CDC contends, and it all has to do with biology.

“Getting enough sleep is important for students’ health, safety, and academic performance,” said Anne Wheaton, a CDC epidemiologist. “In puberty, biological rhythms commonly shift so that adolescents become sleepy later at night and need to sleep later in the morning. Early school start times, however, are preventing many adolescents from getting the sleep they need.”

What else CDC found

Adolescents who do not get enough sleep are more likely to be overweight, physically inactive, suffer from depression, perform poorly in school and engage in risky behaviors such as drinking or smoking.

So why don’t schools change?

There’s the force of habit involved but there’s also the economy of scale. Many school systems use the same bus drivers to get elementary and high school students to school. Too great a difference in the start times can create transportation, and therefore financial, limitations.

How much sleep do adolescents need?

At least nine hours, 15 minutes per night, according to a Stanford University study.

What can a parent do?

Experts recommend keeping teenagers on a set sleep schedule. It also recommends parents limit the use of smartphones, computers and other technology at night.