During the interim session, the Texas Senate Education Committee held hearings to evaluate the Texas Education Code. Start School Later Texas proposed that Section 28.082 of the Education Code be amended to state that all Texas public schools should start no earlier than 8:00 am. As the chapter leader for SSL Greater Austin, I testified about the public safety and mental health benefits of beginning the academic day later in the morning. Of course, I made sure to mention the effect circadian rhythms have on sleep. Here's my testimony:
My name is Alexandra Wharton and I’m the chapter leader of Start School Later Austin with a son in the local public school system.
I am here representing Start School Later Texas, which advocates that no student – whether in elementary, middle or high school - should have to walk, wait at bus stops, ride their bikes, or drive to school before civil twilight.
Bus routes beginning after civil twilight improve student safety by increasing visual awareness of students boarding buses.
Aldine ISD begins high school at 7:05 a.m. with bus routes beginning around 5:45 a.m. By 9:00 a.m., the time this hearing began, students in many Texas school districts have been in class for two hours. We are expecting more from students than what we expect from adults.
In addition to improved safety, later school start times address the public health crisis of adolescent sleep deprivation. Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with mental health issues including depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. To improve overall mental health and prevent potential tragedies, a healthy school culture must include hours that allow for adequate sleep.
Most teens cannot simply “go to bed earlier” because when they reach puberty, their internal clock, which controls their circadian rhythms, becomes delayed by approximately two hours.
Numerous organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Association of Sleep Medicine, and the National PTA, have recommended all middle and high schools start the school day later for the sake of students' health, safety and academic success.
Many local school districts have been unable to implement later school start times despite the irrefutable body of teen sleep research.
Currently, 50% of Texas school districts start at 8 a.m. or later. Adding a start time parameter to the Education Code will provide a framework for the other half of Texas school districts.
Start School Later Texas recommends Section 28.082(a), of the Education Code be amended to read:
A school day shall be at least 420 minutes, including intermissions and recesses and shall begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m .
Start School Later - Greater Austin, alex@delayedsleeper.com
