We respectfully request our school board to officially recognize the large and compelling body of research regarding teen sleep and academic achievement, and, with a resolution, to set a goal to start all schools in Howard County, MD, after 8:00 AM.
When teens get the required 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep:
• School attendance goes up,
• Tardiness decreases,
• They sleep less in class,
• They get in fewer traffic accidents,
• Visit nurses and counselors less often, and,
• Report less depression and irritability.
Starting school before 8:00 AM, without a doubt, undermines optimal academic achievement.
On January 13, 2022 the Board of Education will receive an update from their transportation consultant regarding school start times and new bus routes. The report is available online. https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/hcpssmd/Board.nsf/files/CAEKS553358F/$file/01%2013%202022%20School%20Start%20Times%20Decision%20Briefing%20BR.pdf
On January 13, 2022 the Board of Education received an update from their consultant regarding school start times and new bus routes. The report is available online. https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/hcpssmd/Board.nsf/files/CAEKS553358F/$file/01%2013%202022%20School%20Start%20Times%20Decision%20Briefing%20BR.pdf
The report recommends that High School could start no earlier than 8 a.m. and no later than 8:30 a.m., for no additional cost, if some transportation policy is updated. Elementary and Middle Schools would be scattered amongst three tiers of start times, which would depend on when High School starts. The latest start would be at 9:15 if HS started at 8am, and at 9:45 if HS started at 8:30.
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