Teenagers need more sleep

A recent study from University of Minnesota Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement has validated what teenagers have known since middle school: we can't get enough sleep because school starts too early. Teenagers who get under 8 hours of sleep tend to be more prone to depression and anxiety, high-risk behavior (e.g. drugs and alcohol), attention issues, and low academic performance. The researchers conclude that starting school just an hour or two later than the typical 7:30 start time would improve academic performance and reduce tardiness, among countless other things.

Every day I walk into advisory to find half the people half asleep, dark circles under their eyes, a cup of coffee glued to their hands. Had they been able to sleep just a little longer, they would be more alert and not half-dead.

So why is it so difficult to get schools to change? Maybe it's because parents with multiple children usually have established schedules to get everyone to school on time. Generally, elementary schools start later in the morning. The older you get, the earlier school starts, until college. A later start time could disrupt a household's entire routine and make it difficult for anyone to be on time. There are also after-school sports to consider. Unless we shortened the length of the school day (which is not going to happen), a later start would mean a later dismissal. Outdoor sports teams would be forced to play in the dark, especially in winter when the days are shorter.

Do you think there's a way for the school districts to compromise?