Should District 51 Move Back Start Times?
If you have teenage kids you know first hand how difficult it is to get them up for school. Is a later start time an option?
It's a fact that kids need more sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, "Teens need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night to function best. Most teens do not get enough sleep — one study found that only 15% reported sleeping 8 1/2 hours on school nights."
One of Colorado's largest school districts is considering moving back high school start times to allow older students more sleep. The Denver Post reported this week that the Cherry Creek School District has proposed starting high school classes and an hour later, a move that is gaining traction across the state and country.
Other national studies show high school schedules typically force teenagers to forgo sleep and to wake up during deep sleep, while research indicates elementary school students have more willingness to learn at an earlier time.
Should District 51 consider such a change? How would that impact your day and commute?