# data[].attributes.body
1. The authors purpose in writing this article was to inform.
2. The authors claim was mostly that teens need more sleep.
3. The author showed a little bias because she kind of wanted to start school later.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Adolescents today face a widespread chronic health problem: sleep deprivation. Although society often views sleep as a luxury that ambitious or active people cannot afford, research shows that getting enough sleep is a biological necessity, as important to good health as eating well or exercising. Teens are among those least likely to get enough sleep; while they need on average 9 1/4 hours of sleep per night for optimal performance, health and brain development, teens average fewer than 7 hours per school night by the end of high school, and most report feeling tired during the day (Wolfson & Carskadon, 1998). The roots of the problem include poor teen sleep habits that do not allow for enough hours of quality sleep; hectic schedules with afterschool activities and jobs, homework hours and family obligations; and a clash between societal demands, such as early school start times, and biological changes that put most teens on a later sleep-wake clock. As a result, when it is time to wake up for school, the adolescent's body says it is still the middle of the night, and he or she has had too little sleep to feel rested and alert.

The consequences of sleep deprivation during the teenage years are particularly serious. Teens spend a great portion of each day in school; however, they are unable to maximize the learning opportunities afforded by the education system, since sleep deprivation impairs their ability to be alert, pay attention, solve problems, cope with stress and retain information. Young people who do not get enough sleep night after night carry a significant risk for drowsy driving; emotional and behavioral problems such as irritability, depression, poor impulse control and violence; health complaints; tobacco and alcohol use; impaired cognitive function and decision-making; and lower overall performance in everything from academics to athletics.

The Biology of Adolescent Sleep

Research shows that adolescents require at least as much sleep as they did as children, generally 8 1/2 to 9 1/4 hours each night (Carskadon et al., 1980). Key changes in sleep patterns and needs during puberty can contribute to excessive sleepiness in adolescents, which can impair daytime functioning. First, daytime sleepiness can increase during adolescence, even when teens' schedules allow for optimal amounts of sleep (Carskadon, Vieri, & Acebo, 1993). Second, most adolescents undergo a sleep phase delay, which means a tendency toward later times for both falling asleep and waking up. Research shows the typical adolescent's natural time to fall asleep may be 11 pm or later; because of this change in their internal clocks, teens may feel wide awake at bedtime, even when they are exhausted (Wolfson & Carskadon, 1998). This leads to sleep deprivation in many teens who must wake up early for school, and thus do not get the 8 1/2 - 9 1/4 hours of sleep that they need. It also causes irregular sleep patterns that can hurt the quality of sleep, since the weekend sleep schedule often ends up being much different from the weekday schedule as teens try to catch up on lost sleep (Dahl & Carskadon, 1995).

Adolescents in Study Show Changing Sleep Patterns

Since the 1970s, there has been a growing awareness of the changes in sleep patterns as children transition to adolescence. In a study at a summer sleep camp at Stanford during the 1970s, boys and girls who enrolled at 10-12 years of age were monitored every year for 5-6 years. While researchers had thought older children would need less sleep during the 10 hour nocturnal window they were given, from 10 pm to 8 am, they found that regardless of age, the children all slept about 9 1/4 of the 10 hours. As they progressed through adolescence, participants continued to get the same amount of sleep, but they no longer woke spontaneously before the end of the sleep window at 8 am (Carskadon et al., 1979). In addition, when the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)-given at designated periods throughout the day to determine the speed of falling asleep, to measure sleepiness-was given to the adolescents, they showed more alertness at 8 pm than earlier in the day, and even greater alertness at 10 pm. Also, at midpuberty, adolescents became sleepier in the middle of the day. According to the tests, more mature adolescents showed signs of reduced alertness during the day even though they slept an equivalent amount at night (Carskadon et al., 1980).

Changes in Melatonin

Another experiment, conducted by Dr. Mary A. Carskadon of Brown University, found that more mature adolescents had later circadian rhythm timing, based on melatonin secretions in saliva samples. This finding shows that melatonin secretion occurs at a later time in adolescents as they mature; thus, it is difficult for them to go to sleep earlier at night. The melatonin secretion also turns off later in the morning, which makes it harder to wake up early (Carskadon et al., 1998).

Another important finding from many studies is that the circadian timing system can be reset if light exposure is carefully controlled (Carskadon et al., 1997). In studies where adolescents are paid to keep a specific sleep schedule and wear eyeshades to exclude light during evening hours, measurements of melatonin secretion show that the rhythm had moved significantly toward a designated time. This means that with time, effort, and money, researchers can get adolescents to reset their clocks. This approach, however, is not necessarily realistic for teens who have full and busy lives. Nevertheless, the interaction of light exposure and sleep timing is important to keep in mind.

A Widespread and High-Impact Part of Teens' Lives

Findings of the tendency for adolescent sleep patterns to be delayed have been reported not only in North America, but also in South America, Asia, Australia and Europe (Andrade & Menna Barreto, 2002; Carskadon & Acebo, 1997; Ishihara, Honma & Miyake, 1990; Bearpark & Michie, 1987; Strauch & Meier, 1988; LeBourgeois et al., 2005; Thorleifsdottir et al., 2002). The diversity of such research supports the view that intrinsic developmental changes play a role in delayed sleep patterns in adolescents. This biological shift sets the stage for other social and environmental conditions that make it easier for these adolescents to stay awake at night and wake up sleepdeprived. The effects of changing sleep patterns are compounded by the demands older students face in academics, extracurricular activities, social opportunities, after-school jobs, and other obligations.
"Sleep isn't a priority for teenagers, and it typically isn't made one by parents or schools."
-Jodi Mindell, PhD, Director of Graduate Program in Psychology, St. Joseph's University and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

The School Start Time Issue

Adolescent sleep deprivation is largely driven by a conflict between teens' internal biological clocks and the schedules and demands of society. Therefore, it makes sense to look at school start times, which set the rhythm of the day for students, parents, teachers and members of the community at large.
"Given that the primary focus of education is to maximize human potential, then a new task before us is to ensure that the conditions in which learning takes place address the very biology of our learners."
Mary A. Carskadon, PhD, Director of E.P. Bradley Hospital Research Laboratory and professor in Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University School of Medicine

Research on School Start Times and Biology

In a project spearheaded by Dr. Mary A. Carskadon and colleagues, researchers investigated what would happen to sleep and circadian rhythms in a group of young people for whom the transition from junior high to senior high required a change in school starting time from 8:25 am to 7:20 am (Carskadon et al., 1998).

The 25 students completed the study at two time points, in the spring of 9th grade and autumn of 10th grade. The students kept their usual schedules, wore small activity monitors on their wrists, and kept diaries of activities and sleep schedules for two consecutive weeks. At the end, participants came to Carskadon's sleep lab for assessment of the onset phase of melatonin secretion, an overnight sleep study, and daytime testing with MSLT. The in-lab sleep schedule was fixed to each student's average school night schedule, based on data from the wrist monitors.

Carskadon and colleagues found that in the 10th grade:

On a typical school morning, the students woke up earlier for high school, but only 25 minutes earlier instead of the 65 minutes reflected in the start time change.

Sleep onset times did not change, and averaged about 10:40 pm in both 9th and 10th grade.

The average amount of sleep on school nights fell from 7 hours 9 minutes to 6 hours 50 minutes, which is significant because the students were already accumulating a sleep deficit.

Nearly one-half of the 10th graders showed a reversed sleep pattern on the morning MSLT. This pattern is similar to the sleep disorder narcolepsy, moving immediately into REM sleep before non-REM sleep. The 12 students who showed this pattern did not have narcolepsy, but they did have a mismatch between their school day waking times and their circadian rhythms. Indeed, at 8:30 in the morning, they fell asleep within three minutes.

None of the students made an optimal adjustment to the new schedule; none was sleeping even 8 1/4 hours on school nights.

"Even without the pressure of biological changes, if we combine an early school starting time-say 7:30 am, which, with a modest commute, makes 6:15 am a viable rising time-with our knowledge that optimal sleep need is 9 1/4 hours, we are asking that 16-year olds go to bed at 9 pm. Rare is a teenager that will keep such a schedule. School work, sports practices, clubs, volunteer work, and paid employment take precedence. When biological changes are factored in, the ability even to have merely 'adequate' sleep is lost," Carskadon explains.

School Start Time Initiatives and Outcomes

In 2014, National Sleep Foundation (NSF) worked with U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren to introduce legislation that addresses the relationship between school start times and adolescent health, wellbeing and performance. We encourage you to contact your Representatives and urge them to support this bill.

Collaborating in the Best Interests of Students

Many schools across the country are working to synchronize school clocks with students' body clocks, so that teens are in school during their most alert hours and can achieve their full academic potential. Working to bring school start times in line with teens' sleep needs presents a number of challenges and opportunities. Individual communities can vary greatly in their priorities and values; factors to consider include bell schedules of elementary and middle schools; transportation; athletic programs and extracurricular activities; use of schools for community activities; student employment; and safety issues for younger students who either may be waiting for a bus in the dark or need supervision of older siblings after school. There are also safety issues for older students, since violent activities, sex, recreational use of alcohol or drugs, and criminal and other risky behaviors frequently occur between 2 and 4 pm, according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is also important that any consideration of a school start time change takes into account the impact on families, including transportation, dependence on teens' income, chores and other family responsibilities, and teens' mood and behavior at home.

Changing a school's start time involves a wide array of people-parents, teachers, students, principals, school boards, superintendents, counselors and healthcare professionals, among others. The impact is felt at a community level, but it is also felt individually, and the individuals who are affected need to have their views heard and acknowledged so that discussions can move forward in search of common ground.

Obviously, moving bell times is one major step in a larger picture of ensuring that adolescents get the sleep they need. It will not put more hours in the day, so it is important for teens to know about their sleep needs and have the skills to make a conscious effort to get a good night's sleep. Many teens assume they are expected to function with a lack of sleep, but sleep is not optional; it is biologically necessary. If sleep is incorporated into educational efforts, teens will be armed with information that will enable them to use a later school start time to their advantage.

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Later School Start Times: Benefits & Cons - Sleep Foundation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Adolescents today face a widespread chronic health problem: sleep deprivation. Although society often views sleep as a luxury that ambitious or active people cannot afford, research shows that getting enough sleep is a biological necessity, as important to good health as eating well or exercising.

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The Pros and Cons of Starting School Later- Samuel

# data[].attributes.subject
The Pros and Cons of Starting School Later- Samuel

# data[].attributes.body
1.The authors claim is that teens should have sleep requirements to go to bed sooner. And to also start school 45 min later.
2.The authors purpose was to inform us that there is a problem with teen`s sleep and we need to do somthing about it.

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If you've ever had trouble getting your teen up in the morning or you've seen teens fall asleep during the school day, you're not alone. Many adolescents struggle to wake up early for school. It's sparked a discussion about the pros and cons of starting school at a later time.

While some people may think that teens are just lazy for not getting up early, doctors say that's not actually the case. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has urged school districts to consider later start times so that adolescents can get adequate sleep. Still, many districts have said that changing the time school starts just isn't feasible.

What Physicians Say

The AAP's Adolescent Sleep Working Group reviewed studies involving inadequate sleep in teens. Researchers analyzed the harmful effects sleep deprivation-anything less than 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep on school nights-can have on young people.

They concluded that poor sleep is linked to increased reliance on caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol. They also discovered a link between sleep deprivation and poor academic performance. Sleep deprivation has also been linked to an increased risk of car accidents in teens.

It may seem as though the solution would be for teens to simply go to sleep earlier. But researchers say that it isn't likely to work. Teens experience hormonal shifts that make falling asleep earlier difficult, if not impossible. Their biological clocks simply won't allow them to fall asleep before 11 p.m., even when they're tired.

Studies show that simply delaying school by 30 minutes can have a dramatic impact on teens' health and performance. So most researchers recommend school start times be delayed until at least 8:30 a.m. for teenagers. Benefits of delayed school start times include:

More sleep: Teens may be more likely to get the recommended amount of sleep.

Better sleep: Delayed start time could help teens sleep during their natural sleep/wake cycles.

Less caffeine: Teens may be less likely to depend on caffeine to stay awake during the day.

Better grades: Adequate sleep could help teens be more alert during the school day, which could boost their academic performance.

Better health: Sleeping longer could reduce health-related issues that accompany sleep deprivation.

Better choices: Getting home later in the afternoon (if school is shifted forward) may reduce the amount of time some teens are home alone, and could decrease the likelihood they will engage in unhealthy activities.

What School Districts Say

Despite the recommendation from the AAP, the majority of school districts aren't planning to change their start times. School officials often cite logistical concerns about starting the school day later.

Delaying high school start times could pose problems with bus schedules, after-school activities, and sporting events for the entire district. Changing the high school start time could have a domino effect on all the schools that could pose a logistical nightmare.﻿﻿

Critics also note that a later dismissal time for teens would pose problems for those who must provide childcare to younger siblings. Students who participate in sports and extra-curricular activities would get home later in the evenings. And teens might stay up even later if they don't have to wake for school at an earlier time.

What Parents Can Do

No matter what time your teen's school starts, it's important to support your teen by making sure they're getting enough high-quality sleep. Teach your teen about appropriate sleep hygiene and talk about the benefits of sleep.

While you can't force your teen to fall asleep at a certain time, you can establish a "lights out rule." Take away electronics at least 60 minutes before bedtime and encourage your teen to read quietly in their room to help them get ready for bed.

Most teens like to sleep late on the weekends or during school vacations. However, sleeping in can throw off your teen's natural sleep/wake cycle. Keep your teen on a consistent schedule even on weekends and school vacations.

If you feel strongly that your child's health and academic life are being disrupted by a lack of sleep, be an advocate for your child. Share your concerns with school officials. Attend school board meetings and discuss this issue with other parents. You may be able to gain enough support to create change.

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Should High Schools Start Later so Teens Can Get More Sleep?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends delaying school start times, but most school districts are not planning to start school later.

# data[].attributes.body
the authors claim is that there are pros and cons about later school start times.  To inform the reader about pros and cons about later school start times. No, 5 pros 5 cons.

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Many attempts have been made to switch school start times to later hours. High schools in the U.S. generally start at 8 a.m. if not earlier. Considering commute and morning preparations, students are rising long before dawn to spend six to eight hours of dealing with academic and other school activities. The National Sleep Foundation recommends at least nine hours of sleep for teens, but they get much less than that because they are required to wake up early on school days.

Advantages of Later Start Times

1. Teenagers need at least 8.5 to 9.25 hours of sleep based on their biological clocks.

Sleep deprivation affects physical and mental performance because the body's peak ability depends on its circadian rhythm. Several studies show that high school students are among the most sleep-deprived groups due to a combination of academic workload, sports, extra-curricular activities and starting their day too early. A study conducted jointly by Harvard and Oxford found recommended that school districts adjust schedules to match the biological wake-up times of each age group. At 16, this is around 10 a.m.; at 18, 11 a.m. is the optimum wake-up time.

2. Schools with later start times showed significant improvements in school performance.

School districts that experimented with later start times found that students coped with academic workloads much better. A study that included 9,000 high school students conducted by the University of Minnesota found that grades, test scores and overall performance in core subjects advanced significantly when school start times were switched to later hours.

3. Later start times reduced tardiness, truancy and dropout rates.

The same study cited above also found that starting the school day at a later time improved school attendance. When students slept adequately, they were less sluggish in the morning and more enthusiastic about going to school.

4. Later start times enhanced all-day focus, improved mood and boosted sports performance.

Getting adequate sleep and adjusting school schedules to coincide with the natural sleep patterns of teens improved mood and attitude. Students were less likely to report depressive conditions. Physical performance in sports was boosted when students had enough sleep and sleep schedules coincided with biological sleep patterns.

5. Starting school later gave students time to eat a healthy breakfast.

Given reasonable bell times, students can have the time to sit down for breakfast. This means having healthier breakfast choices than prepackaged foods developed for on- the-go eating.

Recommended Reading: Do Increased Teacher Salaries Mean More Learning? (Infographic)

Disadvantages of Starting Late

1. School districts will face administrative and operational pressures.

School scheduling is a delicate balance of resource allocation. Administrators deploy staggered school start times to allocate limited resources and to operate efficiently within their budgets. Adjusting bell times for high school students means that buses can't be rotated for different pick-up schedules. Overcrowded schools cannot stagger bell times to accommodate more classes to meet class size limits.

2. It becomes difficult to schedule sports practice and extra-curricular activities.

It is difficult to squeeze academic schedules, sports events and extra-curricular activities into available daytime hours if schools started later .

3. A late start time will disrupt parents' schedules.

In households where adults work traditional hours, adjusting the first bell schedule to the recommended 10 a.m. start time will disrupt the household's schedule. Students who have no bus service may have problems getting to and from school.

4. Starting later in the day will affect time available for after-school tutoring.
Students who receive extra services such as one-on-one tutoring and other after-school support may find limited resources as tutors and volunteers may not have the ability to adjust their schedules.

5. Students and their families are already conditioned for early bell.

After several years of being in the school system, family schedules have been set up to revolve around school schedules. Making a major switch to later start times may pose a challenge for working parents who would have to deal with additional costs of before and after-school care and transportation.

Adjusting school schedules is a controversial issue because there are various considerations, all legitimate, that come into play. School districts that have experimented with adjusted schedules have found beneficial effects for students. However, making a massive change may be challenging in the face of limited school budgets and resources.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 Pros and Cons of Later School Start Times

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Many attempts have been made to switch school start times to later hours. High schools in the U.S. generally start at 8 a.m. if not earlier. Considering commute and morning preparations, students are rising long before dawn to spend six to eight hours of dealing with academic and other school activities.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Pros and Cons of Starting School Later - Eli

# data[].attributes.subject
The Pros and Cons of Starting School Later - Eli

# data[].attributes.body
2. The authors claim is that there are pros and cons to starting school later.
3. The author's purpose in writing this article is to show both sides of the argument and tell parents what they can do and how they can help their children.
4. The author does not show bias. She shares both sides of the agreement well, and although there are more pros to one side, I believe she just couldn't find enough information to make it equal. The author clearly has different paragraphs to show the pros for each side of the argument.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you've ever had trouble getting your teen up in the morning or you've seen teens fall asleep during the school day, you're not alone. Many adolescents struggle to wake up early for school. It's sparked a discussion about the pros and cons of starting school at a later time.

While some people may think that teens are just lazy for not getting up early, doctors say that's not actually the case. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has urged school districts to consider later start times so that adolescents can get adequate sleep. Still, many districts have said that changing the time school starts just isn't feasible.

What Physicians Say

The AAP's Adolescent Sleep Working Group reviewed studies involving inadequate sleep in teens. Researchers analyzed the harmful effects sleep deprivation-anything less than 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep on school nights-can have on young people.

They concluded that poor sleep is linked to increased reliance on caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol. They also discovered a link between sleep deprivation and poor academic performance. Sleep deprivation has also been linked to an increased risk of car accidents in teens.

It may seem as though the solution would be for teens to simply go to sleep earlier. But researchers say that it isn't likely to work. Teens experience hormonal shifts that make falling asleep earlier difficult, if not impossible. Their biological clocks simply won't allow them to fall asleep before 11 p.m., even when they're tired.

Studies show that simply delaying school by 30 minutes can have a dramatic impact on teens' health and performance. So most researchers recommend school start times be delayed until at least 8:30 a.m. for teenagers. Benefits of delayed school start times include:

More sleep: Teens may be more likely to get the recommended amount of sleep.

Better sleep: Delayed start time could help teens sleep during their natural sleep/wake cycles.

Less caffeine: Teens may be less likely to depend on caffeine to stay awake during the day.

Better grades: Adequate sleep could help teens be more alert during the school day, which could boost their academic performance.

Better health: Sleeping longer could reduce health-related issues that accompany sleep deprivation.

Better choices: Getting home later in the afternoon (if school is shifted forward) may reduce the amount of time some teens are home alone, and could decrease the likelihood they will engage in unhealthy activities.

What School Districts Say

Despite the recommendation from the AAP, the majority of school districts aren't planning to change their start times. School officials often cite logistical concerns about starting the school day later.

Delaying high school start times could pose problems with bus schedules, after-school activities, and sporting events for the entire district. Changing the high school start time could have a domino effect on all the schools that could pose a logistical nightmare.﻿﻿

Critics also note that a later dismissal time for teens would pose problems for those who must provide childcare to younger siblings. Students who participate in sports and extra-curricular activities would get home later in the evenings. And teens might stay up even later if they don't have to wake for school at an earlier time.

What Parents Can Do

No matter what time your teen's school starts, it's important to support your teen by making sure they're getting enough high-quality sleep. Teach your teen about appropriate sleep hygiene and talk about the benefits of sleep.

While you can't force your teen to fall asleep at a certain time, you can establish a "lights out rule." Take away electronics at least 60 minutes before bedtime and encourage your teen to read quietly in their room to help them get ready for bed.

Most teens like to sleep late on the weekends or during school vacations. However, sleeping in can throw off your teen's natural sleep/wake cycle. Keep your teen on a consistent schedule even on weekends and school vacations.

If you feel strongly that your child's health and academic life are being disrupted by a lack of sleep, be an advocate for your child. Share your concerns with school officials. Attend school board meetings and discuss this issue with other parents. You may be able to gain enough support to create change.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Should High Schools Start Later so Teens Can Get More Sleep?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends delaying school start times, but most school districts are not planning to start school later.

# data[].attributes.headline
Doctors: Early school start times unhealthy for students-Simon

# data[].attributes.subject
Doctors: Early school start times unhealthy for students-Simon

# data[].attributes.body
1.The author's claim is that school should start after 8:30
2. To convince people that school should start later
3.Yes, because the article had all pros about starting school later.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Doctors: Early school start times unhealthy for students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that schools start later to reduce public health concerns. Read the latest news about school start times.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Pros and Cons of Starting School Later-Tenley

# data[].attributes.subject
The Pros and Cons of Starting School Later-Tenley

# data[].attributes.body
2. The authors claim is that highschools  should get more sleep then they are normally getting.
3. The authors purpose of the article is to make a claim that there are pros and cons about starting school later or keeping it the same time.
4.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you've ever had trouble getting your teen up in the morning or you've seen teens fall asleep during the school day, you're not alone. Many adolescents struggle to wake up early for school. It's sparked a discussion about the pros and cons of starting school at a later time.

While some people may think that teens are just lazy for not getting up early, doctors say that's not actually the case. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has urged school districts to consider later start times so that adolescents can get adequate sleep. Still, many districts have said that changing the time school starts just isn't feasible.

What Physicians Say

The AAP's Adolescent Sleep Working Group reviewed studies involving inadequate sleep in teens. Researchers analyzed the harmful effects sleep deprivation-anything less than 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep on school nights-can have on young people.

They concluded that poor sleep is linked to increased reliance on caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol. They also discovered a link between sleep deprivation and poor academic performance. Sleep deprivation has also been linked to an increased risk of car accidents in teens.

It may seem as though the solution would be for teens to simply go to sleep earlier. But researchers say that it isn't likely to work. Teens experience hormonal shifts that make falling asleep earlier difficult, if not impossible. Their biological clocks simply won't allow them to fall asleep before 11 p.m., even when they're tired.

Studies show that simply delaying school by 30 minutes can have a dramatic impact on teens' health and performance. So most researchers recommend school start times be delayed until at least 8:30 a.m. for teenagers. Benefits of delayed school start times include:

More sleep: Teens may be more likely to get the recommended amount of sleep.

Better sleep: Delayed start time could help teens sleep during their natural sleep/wake cycles.

Less caffeine: Teens may be less likely to depend on caffeine to stay awake during the day.

Better grades: Adequate sleep could help teens be more alert during the school day, which could boost their academic performance.

Better health: Sleeping longer could reduce health-related issues that accompany sleep deprivation.

Better choices: Getting home later in the afternoon (if school is shifted forward) may reduce the amount of time some teens are home alone, and could decrease the likelihood they will engage in unhealthy activities.

What School Districts Say

Despite the recommendation from the AAP, the majority of school districts aren't planning to change their start times. School officials often cite logistical concerns about starting the school day later.

Delaying high school start times could pose problems with bus schedules, after-school activities, and sporting events for the entire district. Changing the high school start time could have a domino effect on all the schools that could pose a logistical nightmare.﻿﻿

Critics also note that a later dismissal time for teens would pose problems for those who must provide childcare to younger siblings. Students who participate in sports and extra-curricular activities would get home later in the evenings. And teens might stay up even later if they don't have to wake for school at an earlier time.

What Parents Can Do

No matter what time your teen's school starts, it's important to support your teen by making sure they're getting enough high-quality sleep. Teach your teen about appropriate sleep hygiene and talk about the benefits of sleep.

While you can't force your teen to fall asleep at a certain time, you can establish a "lights out rule." Take away electronics at least 60 minutes before bedtime and encourage your teen to read quietly in their room to help them get ready for bed.

Most teens like to sleep late on the weekends or during school vacations. However, sleeping in can throw off your teen's natural sleep/wake cycle. Keep your teen on a consistent schedule even on weekends and school vacations.

If you feel strongly that your child's health and academic life are being disrupted by a lack of sleep, be an advocate for your child. Share your concerns with school officials. Attend school board meetings and discuss this issue with other parents. You may be able to gain enough support to create change.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Should High Schools Start Later so Teens Can Get More Sleep?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends delaying school start times, but most school districts are not planning to start school later.

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Would a Later School Start Time Increase Student Success?-Jeremy

# data[].attributes.subject
Would a Later School Start Time Increase Student Success?-Jeremy

# data[].attributes.body
The author's claim is that students, especially ones that either have after school activities or get get a lot of homework, don't get enough sleep, and that a later school start time would allow them to get up to 77 minutes of extra sleep. The author's purpose is to make more people believe that a later school start time is a good thing for students around middle school and high school. The author is biased, though, because she only gives pros about the topic and how it could help and doesn't even give a few cons.

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How much sleep do you get each night during the school year?

Are you rested in the morning before school? If so, why? If not, why not? And if not, what do you think could be done to ensure you get more sleep during the school year?

In " The Economic Case for Letting Teenagers Sleep a Little Later," Aaron E. Carroll writes:

Many high-school-age children across the United States now find themselves waking up much earlier than they'd prefer as they return to school. They set their alarms, and their parents force them out of bed in the morning, convinced that this is a necessary part of youth and good preparation for the rest of their lives.

It's not. It's arbitrary, forced on them against their nature, and a poor economic decision as well.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends that teenagers get between nine and 10 hours of sleep. Most in the United States don't. It's not their fault.

My oldest child, Jacob, is in 10th grade. He plays on the junior varsity tennis team, but his life isn't consumed by too many extracurricular activities. He's a hard worker, and he spends a fair amount of time each evening doing homework. I think most nights he's probably asleep by 10 or 10:30.

His school bus picks him up at 6:40 a.m. To catch it, he needs to wake up not long after 6. Nine hours of sleep is a pipe dream, let alone 10.

There's an argument to be made that we should cut back on his activities or make him go to bed earlier so that he gets more sleep. Teens aren't wired for that, though. They want to go to bed later and sleep later. It's not the activities that prevent them from getting enough sleep - it's the school start times that require them to wake up so early. More than 90 percent of high schools and more than 80 percent of middle schools start before 8:30 a.m.

Some argue that delaying school start times would just cause teenagers to stay up later. Research doesn't support that idea. A systematic review published a year ago examined how school start delays affect students' sleep and other outcomes. Six studies, two of which were randomized controlled trials, showed that delaying the start of school from 25 to 60 minutes corresponded with increased sleep time of 25 to 77 minutes per week night. In other words, when students were allowed to sleep later in the morning, they still went to bed at the same time, and got more sleep.

Students: Read the entire article, then tell us:

- Should school start times be adjusted so teenagers can get more sleep in the morning? Why or why not?

- How would a later start time personally affect you?

- Do you agree with the author that a later start time for the school day would save money and increase student success? If so, how? If not, why not?

- What other benefits, or disadvantages, can you see in delaying school start times?
Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

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Would a Later School Start Time Increase Student Success? (Published 2017)

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How much sleep do you get each night during the school year? Are you rested in the morning before school? If so, why? If not, why not? And if not, what do you think could be done to ensure you get more sleep during the school year?

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Later School Start Times Benefit Students and the Economy - Sadie

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Later School Start Times Benefit Students and the Economy - Sadie

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2. The authors claim is later school start times benefits the economy and the students.
3. The author's purpose is to inform people about the pros of later school start times. The author focuses on the positive side of things. Not just for the students but also for the economy.
4. Yes, the author does show bias. Their bias is the fact that school starting later is a good idea, and has positive effects. The author shows this bias by writing about only good things, and not the negative effects this could cause. The author does not try to see both sides of the story. They only focus on the good side of things, not the bad.

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The health benefits of delayed school start times for students are well-documented. But what is the economic impact of starting school later?

Opponents argue that changing school start times would be expensive for parents and school districts. However, a recent study from RAND Europe shows that delaying school start times is cost-effective. Results suggest that starting school later could have a positive impact on the U.S. economy.

Researchers performed an economic analysis (in 47 U.S. states) of a state-wide school start time of 8:30 a.m.

"A small change [in school start time] could result in big economic benefits over a short period of time for the U.S.," said research leader Marco Hafner in a news release. "In fact, the level of benefit and period of time it would take to recoup the costs from the policy change is unprecedented in economic terms."

The researchers used a macroeconomic modelling approach. Their analysis estimated the benefits of improved academic performance of students and reduced car crash rates. The model projected changes to the U.S. economy over a 20-year period.

Study results suggest that the benefits of later start times outweigh the immediate costs. After only two years, the study projects an economic gain of $8.6 billion to the U.S. economy. After 10 years, the study shows that delaying school start times would contribute $83 billion to the U.S. economy. The 20-year projection shows an average annual gain of about $9.3 billion each year to the U.S. economy.

The study didn't take into account other effects from insufficient sleep, such as increased obesity and mental health problems. As a result, the reported economic benefits from delaying school start times could be even higher.

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Later school start times benefit students and the economy

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The health benefits of delayed school start times for students are well-documented. But what is the economic impact of starting school later? Opponents argue that changing school start times would be expensive for parents and school districts. However, a recent study from RAND Europe shows that delaying school start times is cost-effective.

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Later Middle School Start Times Tied to Longer Sleep For Kids - Trevor

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Later Middle School Start Times Tied to Longer Sleep For Kids - Trevor

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The author's claim is that teens get more sleep if the school start time is later. The author's purpose is to inform, and the author does show bias. Carolyn shows bias by only supporting later time.

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(Reuters Health) - Starting middle school classes after 8 a.m. could help pre-teens get more sleep and be more awake during their morning lessons, a U.S. study suggests.

Starting school 37 minutes later in the morning, compared with other schools, gave students an average 17 additional minutes of sleep per weeknight, the study team reports in the Journal of School Health.

Students in late-starting schools also reported less daytime sleepiness, the authors note.

"Although the evidence is growing to start schools later for teens in high school, few studies have looked at middle schools," said lead author Deborah Temkin, director of education research for Child Trends in Bethesda, Maryland, a non-profit research organization.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that teenagers get an average nine hours of sleep per night "to promote optimal health." However, about three-fourths of U.S. high school students get less than eight hours of sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Some districts have changed their start times but they've done so at the detriment of middle schoolers by delaying high schools but moving middle schools earlier," Temkin said in a telephone interview.

The researchers analyzed data on 11 middle schools in a large suburban mid-Atlantic school district during the 2014-2015 academic year. Eight of the schools, with only seventh and eighth grade students, had later start times around 8 a.m., and three schools with seventh through twelfth graders started classes around 7:23 a.m.

In total, nearly 1,000 students were tracked. Parents and students completed online surveys that reported weeknight bedtime, weekend bedtime, school-day wake time, weekend wake time and sleep duration. Students also rated their daytime sleepiness and described instances when they struggled to stay awake or fell asleep during the day.

The study found that students at early-starting schools averaged eight hours and nine minutes of sleep, and students at later starting schools averaged eight hours and 23 minutes of sleep. Average bedtime for all students was around 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.

Students at later starting schools were less likely to report episodes of daytime sleepiness and more likely to report being wide awake during the day. They were also less likely to fall asleep during the day or to struggle through afterschool activities.

"Now we need to think about what those 17 minutes mean," Temkin said. "Is that pressing 'snooze' two times on your phone, or is it more meaningful sleep?"

Students gained about one extra minute of sleep for every two-minute delay in school, the study authors note. "It's important for school systems to know there's not a one-to-one association," Temkin said. "To hit the recommended nine hours of sleep, school start times may have to move to 9:30 a.m. or later, which may not be feasible for many districts."

Still, the cumulative effect of an extra 17 minutes per day of sleep - about 85 minutes per week - could be helpful for students, said Mary Carskadon of Brown University's Sleep for Science Research Lab in Providence, Rhode Island, who wasn't involved in the study.

"It's the first step on a long road," she said in a telephone interview. "If we can't start with small steps, how are we going to get to the end of our journey?"

Carskadon and colleagues are studying whether increasing light in school classrooms in the morning can help sleepy middle schoolers. By changing the light at school, districts can help circadian rhythms, even if they can't control bedtimes at home, she said.

Researchers want to know if starting schools later can also improve health outcomes for students, said Kyla Wahlstrom of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, who wasn't involved in the study. Lack of sleep in teens, for instance, has been linked to higher alcohol use, substance abuse, depression, suicide and car crashes, she said.

"Another issue is that kids who are sleep deprived tend to be snackers and more sedentary. Sleep is tied to healthy eating and exercise," Wahlstrom said in a telephone interivew.

"This is a movement that is clearly in every state in this country and is about more than just academic performance," she said. "Changing start times may not be a one-size-fits-all solution for districts, but many people are realizing that it's a protective action to help teens reduce risky behavior."

SOURCE: bit.ly/2H7Yvy1 Journal of School Health, online April 2, 2018.

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Later middle school start times tied to longer sleep for kids

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By Carolyn Crist(Reuters Health) - Starting middle school classes after 8 a.m. could help pre-teens get more sleep and be more awake during their morning lessons, a U.S.

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Pros and Cons of Later School Start Times - CJ Moore

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Pros and Cons of Later School Start Times - CJ Moore

# data[].attributes.body
2.The authors claim is starting schools later could be good or bad, depending at how you look at it.

3. The author's purpose is to inform. 4. I think that author show some bias to starting schools later becasue they shared mroe pros of starting earlier then they did cons of starting later.

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The Pros and Cons of Starting School Later-Hannah

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The Pros and Cons of Starting School Later-Hannah

# data[].attributes.body
1. The author's claim is that starting school later for high school has advantages and disadvantages.
2. The author's purpose is to inform us that starting school earlier has pros and cons.
3. The author doesn't show a bias because she shows both sides of the story. Good and bad. Even though there is more pros than cons the author still show the advantages and the disadvantages.

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If you've ever had trouble getting your teen up in the morning or you've seen teens fall asleep during the school day, you're not alone. Many adolescents struggle to wake up early for school. It's sparked a discussion about the pros and cons of starting school at a later time.

While some people may think that teens are just lazy for not getting up early, doctors say that's not actually the case. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has urged school districts to consider later start times so that adolescents can get adequate sleep. Still, many districts have said that changing the time school starts just isn't feasible.

What Physicians Say

The AAP's Adolescent Sleep Working Group reviewed studies involving inadequate sleep in teens. Researchers analyzed the harmful effects sleep deprivation-anything less than 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep on school nights-can have on young people.

They concluded that poor sleep is linked to increased reliance on caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol. They also discovered a link between sleep deprivation and poor academic performance. Sleep deprivation has also been linked to an increased risk of car accidents in teens.

It may seem as though the solution would be for teens to simply go to sleep earlier. But researchers say that it isn't likely to work. Teens experience hormonal shifts that make falling asleep earlier difficult, if not impossible. Their biological clocks simply won't allow them to fall asleep before 11 p.m., even when they're tired.

Studies show that simply delaying school by 30 minutes can have a dramatic impact on teens' health and performance. So most researchers recommend school start times be delayed until at least 8:30 a.m. for teenagers. Benefits of delayed school start times include:

More sleep: Teens may be more likely to get the recommended amount of sleep.

Better sleep: Delayed start time could help teens sleep during their natural sleep/wake cycles.

Less caffeine: Teens may be less likely to depend on caffeine to stay awake during the day.

Better grades: Adequate sleep could help teens be more alert during the school day, which could boost their academic performance.

Better health: Sleeping longer could reduce health-related issues that accompany sleep deprivation.

Better choices: Getting home later in the afternoon (if school is shifted forward) may reduce the amount of time some teens are home alone, and could decrease the likelihood they will engage in unhealthy activities.

What School Districts Say

Despite the recommendation from the AAP, the majority of school districts aren't planning to change their start times. School officials often cite logistical concerns about starting the school day later.

Delaying high school start times could pose problems with bus schedules, after-school activities, and sporting events for the entire district. Changing the high school start time could have a domino effect on all the schools that could pose a logistical nightmare.﻿﻿

Critics also note that a later dismissal time for teens would pose problems for those who must provide childcare to younger siblings. Students who participate in sports and extra-curricular activities would get home later in the evenings. And teens might stay up even later if they don't have to wake for school at an earlier time.

What Parents Can Do

No matter what time your teen's school starts, it's important to support your teen by making sure they're getting enough high-quality sleep. Teach your teen about appropriate sleep hygiene and talk about the benefits of sleep.

While you can't force your teen to fall asleep at a certain time, you can establish a "lights out rule." Take away electronics at least 60 minutes before bedtime and encourage your teen to read quietly in their room to help them get ready for bed.

Most teens like to sleep late on the weekends or during school vacations. However, sleeping in can throw off your teen's natural sleep/wake cycle. Keep your teen on a consistent schedule even on weekends and school vacations.

If you feel strongly that your child's health and academic life are being disrupted by a lack of sleep, be an advocate for your child. Share your concerns with school officials. Attend school board meetings and discuss this issue with other parents. You may be able to gain enough support to create change.

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Should High Schools Start Later so Teens Can Get More Sleep?

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The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends delaying school start times, but most school districts are not planning to start school later.

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The Pros and Cons of Starting School Later

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5 Reasons School Should Start Later in the Day- Joslyn 

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5 Reasons School Should Start Later in the Day- Joslyn 

# data[].attributes.body
2. Jacqueline Burt Cote thinks that school should start later because  students aren't getting enough sleep.
3. The authors purpose is to convince, and, or inform readers about the  current situation.
4. The author definitely shows bias. For starters, the title is 5 reasons why school SHOULD start later. She also only says things about the disadvantages, rather than the advantages.

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5 Reasons School Should Start Later in the Day

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Whoever thought starting high school at 7 a.m. (or thereabouts) was a good idea?! It's hard enough getting my daughter to middle school at 7:35. ...

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2. The authors claim is that High Schoolers need more sleep than they are getting.
3. The author's purpose of this article is to inform people that there should be later start times.
4.

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Many attempts have been made to switch school start times to later hours. High schools in the U.S. generally start at 8 a.m. if not earlier. Considering commute and morning preparations, students are rising long before dawn to spend six to eight hours of dealing with academic and other school activities. The National Sleep Foundation recommends at least nine hours of sleep for teens, but they get much less than that because they are required to wake up early on school days.

Advantages of Later Start Times

1. Teenagers need at least 8.5 to 9.25 hours of sleep based on their biological clocks.

Sleep deprivation affects physical and mental performance because the body's peak ability depends on its circadian rhythm. Several studies show that high school students are among the most sleep-deprived groups due to a combination of academic workload, sports, extra-curricular activities and starting their day too early. A study conducted jointly by Harvard and Oxford found recommended that school districts adjust schedules to match the biological wake-up times of each age group. At 16, this is around 10 a.m.; at 18, 11 a.m. is the optimum wake-up time.

2. Schools with later start times showed significant improvements in school performance.

School districts that experimented with later start times found that students coped with academic workloads much better. A study that included 9,000 high school students conducted by the University of Minnesota found that grades, test scores and overall performance in core subjects advanced significantly when school start times were switched to later hours.

3. Later start times reduced tardiness, truancy and dropout rates.

The same study cited above also found that starting the school day at a later time improved school attendance. When students slept adequately, they were less sluggish in the morning and more enthusiastic about going to school.

4. Later start times enhanced all-day focus, improved mood and boosted sports performance.

Getting adequate sleep and adjusting school schedules to coincide with the natural sleep patterns of teens improved mood and attitude. Students were less likely to report depressive conditions. Physical performance in sports was boosted when students had enough sleep and sleep schedules coincided with biological sleep patterns.

5. Starting school later gave students time to eat a healthy breakfast.

Given reasonable bell times, students can have the time to sit down for breakfast. This means having healthier breakfast choices than prepackaged foods developed for on- the-go eating.

Recommended Reading: Do Increased Teacher Salaries Mean More Learning? (Infographic)

Disadvantages of Starting Late

1. School districts will face administrative and operational pressures.

School scheduling is a delicate balance of resource allocation. Administrators deploy staggered school start times to allocate limited resources and to operate efficiently within their budgets. Adjusting bell times for high school students means that buses can't be rotated for different pick-up schedules. Overcrowded schools cannot stagger bell times to accommodate more classes to meet class size limits.

2. It becomes difficult to schedule sports practice and extra-curricular activities.

It is difficult to squeeze academic schedules, sports events and extra-curricular activities into available daytime hours if schools started later .

3. A late start time will disrupt parents' schedules.

In households where adults work traditional hours, adjusting the first bell schedule to the recommended 10 a.m. start time will disrupt the household's schedule. Students who have no bus service may have problems getting to and from school.

4. Starting later in the day will affect time available for after-school tutoring.
Students who receive extra services such as one-on-one tutoring and other after-school support may find limited resources as tutors and volunteers may not have the ability to adjust their schedules.

5. Students and their families are already conditioned for early bell.

After several years of being in the school system, family schedules have been set up to revolve around school schedules. Making a major switch to later start times may pose a challenge for working parents who would have to deal with additional costs of before and after-school care and transportation.

Adjusting school schedules is a controversial issue because there are various considerations, all legitimate, that come into play. School districts that have experimented with adjusted schedules have found beneficial effects for students. However, making a massive change may be challenging in the face of limited school budgets and resources.

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5 Pros and Cons of Later School Start Times

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Many attempts have been made to switch school start times to later hours. High schools in the U.S. generally start at 8 a.m. if not earlier. Considering commute and morning preparations, students are rising long before dawn to spend six to eight hours of dealing with academic and other school activities.

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Debate Over School Start Times Flares Anew- Siri 

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Debate Over School Start Times Flares Anew- Siri 

# data[].attributes.body
2. Donna St. George thinks that schools with later start times have significant improvements.
3.The author's purpose for writing this article was to inform.
4. The author shows bias for having later start times by providing evidence only for that.

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Nearly two years after Montgomery County leaders voted to start the school day later so teenagers could get more sleep, the debate that many thought was settled shows signs of making a comeback in Maryland's largest school system.

Principals in elementary schools have been speaking out about the toll of schedule changes - drowsy children, longer bus rides, families strapped for child care. Employee unions are urging a return to the school hours of old, saying it would be best for students and staff. But parents who support later school days have weighed in, too, with many emailing letters backing the changes adopted in early 2015.

"Please do NOT revert to old bell times!!!" one high school parent wrote. "If anything I wish high school bell times were later."

The issue came up briefly at a school board meeting in December and is on the agenda for the Jan. 10 meeting. "I think there have been some unintended consequences," said Michael A. Durso, board president.

"We'll look at it and discuss it and maybe there are some angles we haven't thought of," he added. "We're just kind of exploratory at this point."

[Montgomery school board pushes high school start times 20 minutes later]

The 2015 decision to reset the 7:25 a.m. opening bells of high school 20 minutes later - to 7:45 a.m. - followed more than two years of study and debate and was viewed by some elected leaders as a no-cost "first step" toward healthier school hours for teenagers.

Supporters have argued that later high school start times are in line with research showing that adolescents are biologically wired for later bedtimes and wake-ups, and that lack of rest is linked to increased risks of depression, car accidents and other problems.

But the changes at high schools affected schedules across the 204-school system. Elementary schools, which open in two waves, now start at 9 a.m. or 9:25 a.m., 10 minutes later than before, and their dismissals come 20 minutes later, so the length of the school day has been extended.

[More sleep for teens, more hardship for parents as school bell times change]

Principals at later-starting elementary schools have appeared at the board's past three meetings to describe what they see as the fallout. Several talked about children being dropped off at school overly early by parents who need to get to work.

Dorothea Fuller, principal of Galway Elementary School, told the board that although the school's PTA provides an after-school-activity bus so students can join in sports workshops, reading support, choir and other programs, fewer students do so because families worry about them arriving home by bus in the dark.

"With the change in bell times, student participation has dropped 30 percent," she said.

Dina Brewer, principal at Sherwood Elementary School, said the change has led to a loss of instructional time, because children grow tired during a late-starting, longer day and buses frequently run late, delaying lessons.

Brewer recalled that on three occasions she received calls after 6 p.m. from teachers who happened to still be at the school when a bus returned with a child who had fallen asleep on the way home and was discovered at the end of the route. She said the school had never had students brought back so late.

"I'm sure you can appreciate the fear and panic that this caused," she said.

Many teachers say they notice that elementary school students, especially the youngest, grow tired as the afternoons wear on, said Valerie Coll, a teacher at Flora M. Singer Elementary. "They tucker out," she said. "Not all students are able to develop the academic stamina."

The union that represents the county's principals and administrators asked the board in November to return schools to the schedules they had in 2014-2015. The teachers union did the same, in a Nov. 2 letter to board members.

"We believe a return to the 2014-2015 bell schedule is in the best interest of our students and educators," the letter said.

[More voices on changing school hours in Maryland's largest school system]

But a number of parents and advocates have weighed in strongly on the other side, saying the board should not scrap healthier start times for teenagers.

"That would be a horrible step backward," said Mandi Mader, a Montgomery County parent who launched a 2012 petition that sparked the effort for change.

Mader said she and others welcome more discussion of the issue and would like to see a better solution for the most-affected elementary schools. They say they've always wanted healthy bell times for all, not just for teenagers. "Many districts have figured this out," she said.

[Montgomery petition to let high-schoolers sleep longer signed by thousands]

School board member Patricia O'Neill, 3rd District, said the school system's choices have long been influenced by economics and transportation.

School buses travel multiple routes each day - so that a vehicle transporting high school students in the early morning is used later for middle-schoolers and later still for children in elementary grades. Not everyone can go to school at the same time, she said.

"This is a complex issue that has been studied and studied and studied over the years," she said. "There is no perfect solution other than to buy more buses and hire more drivers," which she sees as unlikely given budget constraints and needs such as addressing the achievement gap.

O'Neill said that complaints about some elementary schools starting too late preceded the change in bell times. Although she does not back a return to earlier hours at high schools, she would like to work toward a solution for the district's later-scheduled elementary schools.

Elise Browne Hughes, a Bethesda parent and PTA leader, said the change at high schools has been better than expected.

Her teenage son has long struggled to wake up and was often a few minutes tardy for school, she said. She was skeptical about how much could be gained with a 20-minute shift. But she says his mornings are markedly better - and he gets to school on time. "It really did make a difference," she said.

Experts say adolescents need 8½ to 9½ hours of sleep a night but find it hard to fall asleep before 11 because of their natural sleep cycles.

Eric Guerci, the student member of the school board, said that leaders of Montgomery's countywide student government passed a resolution in December against returning to the bell times of the 2014-2015 school year. Although the current hours may not be perfect, he said, many see them as a benefit overall: "They're seen as representing a positive change."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Debate over school start times flares anew

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Nearly two years after Montgomery County leaders voted to start the school day later so teenagers could get more sleep, the debate that many thought was settled shows signs of making a comeback in Maryland's largest school system.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Pros and Cons of starting school later- Gabi

# data[].attributes.subject
The Pros and Cons of starting school later- Gabi

# data[].attributes.body
2. The author doesn't necessarily have a claim
3. I think that the author was just trying to prove that starting school later can be good and bad.
4. All though the author does have more pros than cons, she doesn't seem to really show a bias.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you've ever had trouble getting your teen up in the morning or you've seen teens fall asleep during the school day, you're not alone. Many adolescents struggle to wake up early for school. It's sparked a discussion about the pros and cons of starting school at a later time.

While some people may think that teens are just lazy for not getting up early, doctors say that's not actually the case. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has urged school districts to consider later start times so that adolescents can get adequate sleep. Still, many districts have said that changing the time school starts just isn't feasible.

What Physicians Say

The AAP's Adolescent Sleep Working Group reviewed studies involving inadequate sleep in teens. Researchers analyzed the harmful effects sleep deprivation-anything less than 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep on school nights-can have on young people.

They concluded that poor sleep is linked to increased reliance on caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol. They also discovered a link between sleep deprivation and poor academic performance. Sleep deprivation has also been linked to an increased risk of car accidents in teens.

It may seem as though the solution would be for teens to simply go to sleep earlier. But researchers say that it isn't likely to work. Teens experience hormonal shifts that make falling asleep earlier difficult, if not impossible. Their biological clocks simply won't allow them to fall asleep before 11 p.m., even when they're tired.

Studies show that simply delaying school by 30 minutes can have a dramatic impact on teens' health and performance. So most researchers recommend school start times be delayed until at least 8:30 a.m. for teenagers. Benefits of delayed school start times include:

More sleep: Teens may be more likely to get the recommended amount of sleep.

Better sleep: Delayed start time could help teens sleep during their natural sleep/wake cycles.

Less caffeine: Teens may be less likely to depend on caffeine to stay awake during the day.

Better grades: Adequate sleep could help teens be more alert during the school day, which could boost their academic performance.

Better health: Sleeping longer could reduce health-related issues that accompany sleep deprivation.

Better choices: Getting home later in the afternoon (if school is shifted forward) may reduce the amount of time some teens are home alone, and could decrease the likelihood they will engage in unhealthy activities.

What School Districts Say

Despite the recommendation from the AAP, the majority of school districts aren't planning to change their start times. School officials often cite logistical concerns about starting the school day later.

Delaying high school start times could pose problems with bus schedules, after-school activities, and sporting events for the entire district. Changing the high school start time could have a domino effect on all the schools that could pose a logistical nightmare.﻿﻿

Critics also note that a later dismissal time for teens would pose problems for those who must provide childcare to younger siblings. Students who participate in sports and extra-curricular activities would get home later in the evenings. And teens might stay up even later if they don't have to wake for school at an earlier time.

What Parents Can Do

No matter what time your teen's school starts, it's important to support your teen by making sure they're getting enough high-quality sleep. Teach your teen about appropriate sleep hygiene and talk about the benefits of sleep.

While you can't force your teen to fall asleep at a certain time, you can establish a "lights out rule." Take away electronics at least 60 minutes before bedtime and encourage your teen to read quietly in their room to help them get ready for bed.

Most teens like to sleep late on the weekends or during school vacations. However, sleeping in can throw off your teen's natural sleep/wake cycle. Keep your teen on a consistent schedule even on weekends and school vacations.

If you feel strongly that your child's health and academic life are being disrupted by a lack of sleep, be an advocate for your child. Share your concerns with school officials. Attend school board meetings and discuss this issue with other parents. You may be able to gain enough support to create change.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Should High Schools Start Later so Teens Can Get More Sleep?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends delaying school start times, but most school districts are not planning to start school later.

# data[].attributes.body
2. The author's claim is that students need more sleep because it is healthier for them.
3. The author's purpose
4. The author does not show

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Adolescents today face a widespread chronic health problem: sleep deprivation. Although society often views sleep as a luxury that ambitious or active people cannot afford, research shows that getting enough sleep is a biological necessity, as important to good health as eating well or exercising. Teens are among those least likely to get enough sleep; while they need on average 9 1/4 hours of sleep per night for optimal performance, health and brain development, teens average fewer than 7 hours per school night by the end of high school, and most report feeling tired during the day (Wolfson & Carskadon, 1998). The roots of the problem include poor teen sleep habits that do not allow for enough hours of quality sleep; hectic schedules with afterschool activities and jobs, homework hours and family obligations; and a clash between societal demands, such as early school start times, and biological changes that put most teens on a later sleep-wake clock. As a result, when it is time to wake up for school, the adolescent's body says it is still the middle of the night, and he or she has had too little sleep to feel rested and alert.

The consequences of sleep deprivation during the teenage years are particularly serious. Teens spend a great portion of each day in school; however, they are unable to maximize the learning opportunities afforded by the education system, since sleep deprivation impairs their ability to be alert, pay attention, solve problems, cope with stress and retain information. Young people who do not get enough sleep night after night carry a significant risk for drowsy driving; emotional and behavioral problems such as irritability, depression, poor impulse control and violence; health complaints; tobacco and alcohol use; impaired cognitive function and decision-making; and lower overall performance in everything from academics to athletics.

The Biology of Adolescent Sleep

Research shows that adolescents require at least as much sleep as they did as children, generally 8 1/2 to 9 1/4 hours each night (Carskadon et al., 1980). Key changes in sleep patterns and needs during puberty can contribute to excessive sleepiness in adolescents, which can impair daytime functioning. First, daytime sleepiness can increase during adolescence, even when teens' schedules allow for optimal amounts of sleep (Carskadon, Vieri, & Acebo, 1993). Second, most adolescents undergo a sleep phase delay, which means a tendency toward later times for both falling asleep and waking up. Research shows the typical adolescent's natural time to fall asleep may be 11 pm or later; because of this change in their internal clocks, teens may feel wide awake at bedtime, even when they are exhausted (Wolfson & Carskadon, 1998). This leads to sleep deprivation in many teens who must wake up early for school, and thus do not get the 8 1/2 - 9 1/4 hours of sleep that they need. It also causes irregular sleep patterns that can hurt the quality of sleep, since the weekend sleep schedule often ends up being much different from the weekday schedule as teens try to catch up on lost sleep (Dahl & Carskadon, 1995).

Adolescents in Study Show Changing Sleep Patterns

Since the 1970s, there has been a growing awareness of the changes in sleep patterns as children transition to adolescence. In a study at a summer sleep camp at Stanford during the 1970s, boys and girls who enrolled at 10-12 years of age were monitored every year for 5-6 years. While researchers had thought older children would need less sleep during the 10 hour nocturnal window they were given, from 10 pm to 8 am, they found that regardless of age, the children all slept about 9 1/4 of the 10 hours. As they progressed through adolescence, participants continued to get the same amount of sleep, but they no longer woke spontaneously before the end of the sleep window at 8 am (Carskadon et al., 1979). In addition, when the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)-given at designated periods throughout the day to determine the speed of falling asleep, to measure sleepiness-was given to the adolescents, they showed more alertness at 8 pm than earlier in the day, and even greater alertness at 10 pm. Also, at midpuberty, adolescents became sleepier in the middle of the day. According to the tests, more mature adolescents showed signs of reduced alertness during the day even though they slept an equivalent amount at night (Carskadon et al., 1980).

Changes in Melatonin

Another experiment, conducted by Dr. Mary A. Carskadon of Brown University, found that more mature adolescents had later circadian rhythm timing, based on melatonin secretions in saliva samples. This finding shows that melatonin secretion occurs at a later time in adolescents as they mature; thus, it is difficult for them to go to sleep earlier at night. The melatonin secretion also turns off later in the morning, which makes it harder to wake up early (Carskadon et al., 1998).

Another important finding from many studies is that the circadian timing system can be reset if light exposure is carefully controlled (Carskadon et al., 1997). In studies where adolescents are paid to keep a specific sleep schedule and wear eyeshades to exclude light during evening hours, measurements of melatonin secretion show that the rhythm had moved significantly toward a designated time. This means that with time, effort, and money, researchers can get adolescents to reset their clocks. This approach, however, is not necessarily realistic for teens who have full and busy lives. Nevertheless, the interaction of light exposure and sleep timing is important to keep in mind.

A Widespread and High-Impact Part of Teens' Lives

Findings of the tendency for adolescent sleep patterns to be delayed have been reported not only in North America, but also in South America, Asia, Australia and Europe (Andrade & Menna Barreto, 2002; Carskadon & Acebo, 1997; Ishihara, Honma & Miyake, 1990; Bearpark & Michie, 1987; Strauch & Meier, 1988; LeBourgeois et al., 2005; Thorleifsdottir et al., 2002). The diversity of such research supports the view that intrinsic developmental changes play a role in delayed sleep patterns in adolescents. This biological shift sets the stage for other social and environmental conditions that make it easier for these adolescents to stay awake at night and wake up sleepdeprived. The effects of changing sleep patterns are compounded by the demands older students face in academics, extracurricular activities, social opportunities, after-school jobs, and other obligations.
"Sleep isn't a priority for teenagers, and it typically isn't made one by parents or schools."
-Jodi Mindell, PhD, Director of Graduate Program in Psychology, St. Joseph's University and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

The School Start Time Issue

Adolescent sleep deprivation is largely driven by a conflict between teens' internal biological clocks and the schedules and demands of society. Therefore, it makes sense to look at school start times, which set the rhythm of the day for students, parents, teachers and members of the community at large.
"Given that the primary focus of education is to maximize human potential, then a new task before us is to ensure that the conditions in which learning takes place address the very biology of our learners."
Mary A. Carskadon, PhD, Director of E.P. Bradley Hospital Research Laboratory and professor in Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University School of Medicine

Research on School Start Times and Biology

In a project spearheaded by Dr. Mary A. Carskadon and colleagues, researchers investigated what would happen to sleep and circadian rhythms in a group of young people for whom the transition from junior high to senior high required a change in school starting time from 8:25 am to 7:20 am (Carskadon et al., 1998).

The 25 students completed the study at two time points, in the spring of 9th grade and autumn of 10th grade. The students kept their usual schedules, wore small activity monitors on their wrists, and kept diaries of activities and sleep schedules for two consecutive weeks. At the end, participants came to Carskadon's sleep lab for assessment of the onset phase of melatonin secretion, an overnight sleep study, and daytime testing with MSLT. The in-lab sleep schedule was fixed to each student's average school night schedule, based on data from the wrist monitors.

Carskadon and colleagues found that in the 10th grade:

On a typical school morning, the students woke up earlier for high school, but only 25 minutes earlier instead of the 65 minutes reflected in the start time change.

Sleep onset times did not change, and averaged about 10:40 pm in both 9th and 10th grade.

The average amount of sleep on school nights fell from 7 hours 9 minutes to 6 hours 50 minutes, which is significant because the students were already accumulating a sleep deficit.

Nearly one-half of the 10th graders showed a reversed sleep pattern on the morning MSLT. This pattern is similar to the sleep disorder narcolepsy, moving immediately into REM sleep before non-REM sleep. The 12 students who showed this pattern did not have narcolepsy, but they did have a mismatch between their school day waking times and their circadian rhythms. Indeed, at 8:30 in the morning, they fell asleep within three minutes.

None of the students made an optimal adjustment to the new schedule; none was sleeping even 8 1/4 hours on school nights.

"Even without the pressure of biological changes, if we combine an early school starting time-say 7:30 am, which, with a modest commute, makes 6:15 am a viable rising time-with our knowledge that optimal sleep need is 9 1/4 hours, we are asking that 16-year olds go to bed at 9 pm. Rare is a teenager that will keep such a schedule. School work, sports practices, clubs, volunteer work, and paid employment take precedence. When biological changes are factored in, the ability even to have merely 'adequate' sleep is lost," Carskadon explains.

School Start Time Initiatives and Outcomes

In 2014, National Sleep Foundation (NSF) worked with U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren to introduce legislation that addresses the relationship between school start times and adolescent health, wellbeing and performance. We encourage you to contact your Representatives and urge them to support this bill.

Collaborating in the Best Interests of Students

Many schools across the country are working to synchronize school clocks with students' body clocks, so that teens are in school during their most alert hours and can achieve their full academic potential. Working to bring school start times in line with teens' sleep needs presents a number of challenges and opportunities. Individual communities can vary greatly in their priorities and values; factors to consider include bell schedules of elementary and middle schools; transportation; athletic programs and extracurricular activities; use of schools for community activities; student employment; and safety issues for younger students who either may be waiting for a bus in the dark or need supervision of older siblings after school. There are also safety issues for older students, since violent activities, sex, recreational use of alcohol or drugs, and criminal and other risky behaviors frequently occur between 2 and 4 pm, according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is also important that any consideration of a school start time change takes into account the impact on families, including transportation, dependence on teens' income, chores and other family responsibilities, and teens' mood and behavior at home.

Changing a school's start time involves a wide array of people-parents, teachers, students, principals, school boards, superintendents, counselors and healthcare professionals, among others. The impact is felt at a community level, but it is also felt individually, and the individuals who are affected need to have their views heard and acknowledged so that discussions can move forward in search of common ground.

Obviously, moving bell times is one major step in a larger picture of ensuring that adolescents get the sleep they need. It will not put more hours in the day, so it is important for teens to know about their sleep needs and have the skills to make a conscious effort to get a good night's sleep. Many teens assume they are expected to function with a lack of sleep, but sleep is not optional; it is biologically necessary. If sleep is incorporated into educational efforts, teens will be armed with information that will enable them to use a later school start time to their advantage.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Later School Start Times: Benefits & Cons - Sleep Foundation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Adolescents today face a widespread chronic health problem: sleep deprivation. Although society often views sleep as a luxury that ambitious or active people cannot afford, research shows that getting enough sleep is a biological necessity, as important to good health as eating well or exercising.

# data[].attributes.body
1. The authors claim is that it's a good thing to start later.
2.The authors purpose is to make people think it's a good thing to start later.
3.Yes because he shows a lot of good things about starting later

# data[].attributes.headline
Would a Later School Start Time Increase Student Success - Spencer

# data[].attributes.subject
Would a Later School Start Time Increase Student Success - Spencer

# data[].attributes.body
1. This article passed the C.R.A.P test.
2. This article states that high school students get less sleep then normal, on a school day.
3. I think this is not bias because all the author is doing is the reasons why the high school students get less sleep

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How much sleep do you get each night during the school year?

Are you rested in the morning before school? If so, why? If not, why not? And if not, what do you think could be done to ensure you get more sleep during the school year?

In " The Economic Case for Letting Teenagers Sleep a Little Later," Aaron E. Carroll writes:

Many high-school-age children across the United States now find themselves waking up much earlier than they'd prefer as they return to school. They set their alarms, and their parents force them out of bed in the morning, convinced that this is a necessary part of youth and good preparation for the rest of their lives.

It's not. It's arbitrary, forced on them against their nature, and a poor economic decision as well.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends that teenagers get between nine and 10 hours of sleep. Most in the United States don't. It's not their fault.

My oldest child, Jacob, is in 10th grade. He plays on the junior varsity tennis team, but his life isn't consumed by too many extracurricular activities. He's a hard worker, and he spends a fair amount of time each evening doing homework. I think most nights he's probably asleep by 10 or 10:30.

His school bus picks him up at 6:40 a.m. To catch it, he needs to wake up not long after 6. Nine hours of sleep is a pipe dream, let alone 10.

There's an argument to be made that we should cut back on his activities or make him go to bed earlier so that he gets more sleep. Teens aren't wired for that, though. They want to go to bed later and sleep later. It's not the activities that prevent them from getting enough sleep - it's the school start times that require them to wake up so early. More than 90 percent of high schools and more than 80 percent of middle schools start before 8:30 a.m.

Some argue that delaying school start times would just cause teenagers to stay up later. Research doesn't support that idea. A systematic review published a year ago examined how school start delays affect students' sleep and other outcomes. Six studies, two of which were randomized controlled trials, showed that delaying the start of school from 25 to 60 minutes corresponded with increased sleep time of 25 to 77 minutes per week night. In other words, when students were allowed to sleep later in the morning, they still went to bed at the same time, and got more sleep.

Students: Read the entire article, then tell us:

- Should school start times be adjusted so teenagers can get more sleep in the morning? Why or why not?

- How would a later start time personally affect you?

- Do you agree with the author that a later start time for the school day would save money and increase student success? If so, how? If not, why not?

- What other benefits, or disadvantages, can you see in delaying school start times?
Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Would a Later School Start Time Increase Student Success? (Published 2017)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How much sleep do you get each night during the school year? Are you rested in the morning before school? If so, why? If not, why not? And if not, what do you think could be done to ensure you get more sleep during the school year?

# data[].attributes.body
1. Sleepy students can suffer from poor grades and be at risk for depression and obesity
2.However, obstacles for moving school start times later include difficulties in scheduling after-school activities, as well as costs and traffic congestion
3. its bias there is one fact  about it being bad
4.
author trying to inform us

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School starts too early for teens

Middle and high school students are starting their school day too early, according to data published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The CDC and U.S. Department of Education researchers reviewed data from the 2011-2012 academic year and found that among the nearly 40,000 schools surveyed, 17.7% of public schools started school at the recommended time of 8:30 a.m. or later. Students in Louisiana had the earliest average start time (7:40 a.m.) while Alaska started latest (8:33 a.m.).

In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m., so teens can get more sleep. Sleepy students can suffer from poor grades and be at risk for depression and obesity. However, obstacles for moving school start times later include difficulties in scheduling after-school activities, as well as costs and traffic congestion associated with changing bus schedules, according to the report.

Autism screening for children under 3

The U.S Preventive Services Task Force says more research is needed on the benefits and potential risks of screening children younger than 3 for autism spectrum disorder before they can recommend it. The task force is an independent group of 16 experts who evaluate research regarding preventive medical services.

Right now, kids are screened for developmental disabilities, including autism, at 9-, 18- and 24- or 30-month well-child doctor visits. One study found that early detection and interventions could help children reduce developmental problems caused by autism. But the task force calls for more robust studies to better understand how screening affects childrens' health and development.

Some leading medical organizations aren't pleased with this recommendation. The American Academy of Pediatrics called the task force's findings "very disturbing." The academy warned it would be a "major step back" to stop screening in the interim. The recommendation draft is open for public comment until August 31, 2015.

Mindfulness may help veterans with PTSD

Among war veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, 23% have post-traumatic stress disorder, but practicing mindfulness may reduce symptoms, according to a study published in JAMA.

Researchers from the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center recruited 116 veterans with PTSD and randomly split them into two groups. One group was instructed in mindfulness-based stress reduction, which teaches people to remain present in the moment without judgment, while the alternate group received present-centered group therapy, focusing on current life problems as manifestations of PTSD. After nine sessions, the mindfulness group self-reported a reduction of PTSD symptoms. But more research is needed to determine long-term effectiveness.

"Although it appears to be a promising intervention, we couldn't clearly conclude it would be efficacious," said co-author Melissa A. Polusny, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School. A long-term study is needed to determine if mindfulness could replace other first-line treatments, said Polusny. In the interim, mindfulness may be useful for veterans who have difficultly tolerating treatments focused on trauma memories, she added, as it can act as a gentler form of exposure than focusing directly on the trauma.

Evidence lacking for vitamin D supplements and women's bone health

A one-year study found that high doses of vitamin D had no effect on bone density and negligible impact on calcium absorption for postmenopausal women. Published in the journal JAMA internal medicine, the study involved 230 women, randomly dividing them into three supplementation groups: low-dose vitamin D, high-dose vitamin D and placebo. Study authors put their findings in context, noting that while their study was short, they suggest vitamin D blood levels of at least 20 ng/mL are sufficient to support bone health.

A urine test for pancreatic cancer

British researchers say they're one step closer to a urine test to detect early stage pancreatic cancer, according to a study. Performing lab tests to check for three markers -- LYVE-1, REG1A and TFF1 -- in the urine, researchers distinguished with "high accuracy" between healthy subjects and those with pancreatic cancer, according to the study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research. In total, 371 urine samples were tested.

Limitations include that, on average, participants with pancreatic cancer were older than the healthy group. It's also not known how early in the disease progression this urine test could detect the disease. Researchers say finding a way to detect early and stop pancreatic cancer in its tracks is vital, because more than 80% of people diagnosed already have a late-stage cancer.

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results are in: kids start school too early - cnn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Ben Smart and Liza Lucas, Special to CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Results are in: Kids start school too early - CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
School starts too early for teens Middle and high school students are starting their school day too early, according to data published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The CDC and U.S.

# data[].attributes.body
1. The National Sleep Foundation's article has passed the C.R.A.P test.
2. I think the author's claim is how later school start times would be beneficial for teens going through adolescence.
3. The author's purpose is to inform us about the benefits and the cons of later school start times.
4. I think the author has a bias because because it mostly explains how it is important for adolescent students to have a later school start time in order to be more successful in their studies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Adolescents today face a widespread chronic health problem: sleep deprivation. Although society often views sleep as a luxury that ambitious or active people cannot afford, research shows that getting enough sleep is a biological necessity, as important to good health as eating well or exercising. Teens are among those least likely to get enough sleep; while they need on average 9 1/4 hours of sleep per night for optimal performance, health and brain development, teens average fewer than 7 hours per school night by the end of high school, and most report feeling tired during the day (Wolfson & Carskadon, 1998). The roots of the problem include poor teen sleep habits that do not allow for enough hours of quality sleep; hectic schedules with afterschool activities and jobs, homework hours and family obligations; and a clash between societal demands, such as early school start times, and biological changes that put most teens on a later sleep-wake clock. As a result, when it is time to wake up for school, the adolescent's body says it is still the middle of the night, and he or she has had too little sleep to feel rested and alert.

The consequences of sleep deprivation during the teenage years are particularly serious. Teens spend a great portion of each day in school; however, they are unable to maximize the learning opportunities afforded by the education system, since sleep deprivation impairs their ability to be alert, pay attention, solve problems, cope with stress and retain information. Young people who do not get enough sleep night after night carry a significant risk for drowsy driving; emotional and behavioral problems such as irritability, depression, poor impulse control and violence; health complaints; tobacco and alcohol use; impaired cognitive function and decision-making; and lower overall performance in everything from academics to athletics.

The Biology of Adolescent Sleep

Research shows that adolescents require at least as much sleep as they did as children, generally 8 1/2 to 9 1/4 hours each night (Carskadon et al., 1980). Key changes in sleep patterns and needs during puberty can contribute to excessive sleepiness in adolescents, which can impair daytime functioning. First, daytime sleepiness can increase during adolescence, even when teens' schedules allow for optimal amounts of sleep (Carskadon, Vieri, & Acebo, 1993). Second, most adolescents undergo a sleep phase delay, which means a tendency toward later times for both falling asleep and waking up. Research shows the typical adolescent's natural time to fall asleep may be 11 pm or later; because of this change in their internal clocks, teens may feel wide awake at bedtime, even when they are exhausted (Wolfson & Carskadon, 1998). This leads to sleep deprivation in many teens who must wake up early for school, and thus do not get the 8 1/2 - 9 1/4 hours of sleep that they need. It also causes irregular sleep patterns that can hurt the quality of sleep, since the weekend sleep schedule often ends up being much different from the weekday schedule as teens try to catch up on lost sleep (Dahl & Carskadon, 1995).

Adolescents in Study Show Changing Sleep Patterns

Since the 1970s, there has been a growing awareness of the changes in sleep patterns as children transition to adolescence. In a study at a summer sleep camp at Stanford during the 1970s, boys and girls who enrolled at 10-12 years of age were monitored every year for 5-6 years. While researchers had thought older children would need less sleep during the 10 hour nocturnal window they were given, from 10 pm to 8 am, they found that regardless of age, the children all slept about 9 1/4 of the 10 hours. As they progressed through adolescence, participants continued to get the same amount of sleep, but they no longer woke spontaneously before the end of the sleep window at 8 am (Carskadon et al., 1979). In addition, when the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)-given at designated periods throughout the day to determine the speed of falling asleep, to measure sleepiness-was given to the adolescents, they showed more alertness at 8 pm than earlier in the day, and even greater alertness at 10 pm. Also, at midpuberty, adolescents became sleepier in the middle of the day. According to the tests, more mature adolescents showed signs of reduced alertness during the day even though they slept an equivalent amount at night (Carskadon et al., 1980).

Changes in Melatonin

Another experiment, conducted by Dr. Mary A. Carskadon of Brown University, found that more mature adolescents had later circadian rhythm timing, based on melatonin secretions in saliva samples. This finding shows that melatonin secretion occurs at a later time in adolescents as they mature; thus, it is difficult for them to go to sleep earlier at night. The melatonin secretion also turns off later in the morning, which makes it harder to wake up early (Carskadon et al., 1998).

Another important finding from many studies is that the circadian timing system can be reset if light exposure is carefully controlled (Carskadon et al., 1997). In studies where adolescents are paid to keep a specific sleep schedule and wear eyeshades to exclude light during evening hours, measurements of melatonin secretion show that the rhythm had moved significantly toward a designated time. This means that with time, effort, and money, researchers can get adolescents to reset their clocks. This approach, however, is not necessarily realistic for teens who have full and busy lives. Nevertheless, the interaction of light exposure and sleep timing is important to keep in mind.

A Widespread and High-Impact Part of Teens' Lives

Findings of the tendency for adolescent sleep patterns to be delayed have been reported not only in North America, but also in South America, Asia, Australia and Europe (Andrade & Menna Barreto, 2002; Carskadon & Acebo, 1997; Ishihara, Honma & Miyake, 1990; Bearpark & Michie, 1987; Strauch & Meier, 1988; LeBourgeois et al., 2005; Thorleifsdottir et al., 2002). The diversity of such research supports the view that intrinsic developmental changes play a role in delayed sleep patterns in adolescents. This biological shift sets the stage for other social and environmental conditions that make it easier for these adolescents to stay awake at night and wake up sleepdeprived. The effects of changing sleep patterns are compounded by the demands older students face in academics, extracurricular activities, social opportunities, after-school jobs, and other obligations.
"Sleep isn't a priority for teenagers, and it typically isn't made one by parents or schools."
-Jodi Mindell, PhD, Director of Graduate Program in Psychology, St. Joseph's University and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

The School Start Time Issue

Adolescent sleep deprivation is largely driven by a conflict between teens' internal biological clocks and the schedules and demands of society. Therefore, it makes sense to look at school start times, which set the rhythm of the day for students, parents, teachers and members of the community at large.
"Given that the primary focus of education is to maximize human potential, then a new task before us is to ensure that the conditions in which learning takes place address the very biology of our learners."
Mary A. Carskadon, PhD, Director of E.P. Bradley Hospital Research Laboratory and professor in Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University School of Medicine

Research on School Start Times and Biology

In a project spearheaded by Dr. Mary A. Carskadon and colleagues, researchers investigated what would happen to sleep and circadian rhythms in a group of young people for whom the transition from junior high to senior high required a change in school starting time from 8:25 am to 7:20 am (Carskadon et al., 1998).

The 25 students completed the study at two time points, in the spring of 9th grade and autumn of 10th grade. The students kept their usual schedules, wore small activity monitors on their wrists, and kept diaries of activities and sleep schedules for two consecutive weeks. At the end, participants came to Carskadon's sleep lab for assessment of the onset phase of melatonin secretion, an overnight sleep study, and daytime testing with MSLT. The in-lab sleep schedule was fixed to each student's average school night schedule, based on data from the wrist monitors.

Carskadon and colleagues found that in the 10th grade:

On a typical school morning, the students woke up earlier for high school, but only 25 minutes earlier instead of the 65 minutes reflected in the start time change.

Sleep onset times did not change, and averaged about 10:40 pm in both 9th and 10th grade.

The average amount of sleep on school nights fell from 7 hours 9 minutes to 6 hours 50 minutes, which is significant because the students were already accumulating a sleep deficit.

Nearly one-half of the 10th graders showed a reversed sleep pattern on the morning MSLT. This pattern is similar to the sleep disorder narcolepsy, moving immediately into REM sleep before non-REM sleep. The 12 students who showed this pattern did not have narcolepsy, but they did have a mismatch between their school day waking times and their circadian rhythms. Indeed, at 8:30 in the morning, they fell asleep within three minutes.

None of the students made an optimal adjustment to the new schedule; none was sleeping even 8 1/4 hours on school nights.

"Even without the pressure of biological changes, if we combine an early school starting time-say 7:30 am, which, with a modest commute, makes 6:15 am a viable rising time-with our knowledge that optimal sleep need is 9 1/4 hours, we are asking that 16-year olds go to bed at 9 pm. Rare is a teenager that will keep such a schedule. School work, sports practices, clubs, volunteer work, and paid employment take precedence. When biological changes are factored in, the ability even to have merely 'adequate' sleep is lost," Carskadon explains.

School Start Time Initiatives and Outcomes

In 2014, National Sleep Foundation (NSF) worked with U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren to introduce legislation that addresses the relationship between school start times and adolescent health, wellbeing and performance. We encourage you to contact your Representatives and urge them to support this bill.

Collaborating in the Best Interests of Students

Many schools across the country are working to synchronize school clocks with students' body clocks, so that teens are in school during their most alert hours and can achieve their full academic potential. Working to bring school start times in line with teens' sleep needs presents a number of challenges and opportunities. Individual communities can vary greatly in their priorities and values; factors to consider include bell schedules of elementary and middle schools; transportation; athletic programs and extracurricular activities; use of schools for community activities; student employment; and safety issues for younger students who either may be waiting for a bus in the dark or need supervision of older siblings after school. There are also safety issues for older students, since violent activities, sex, recreational use of alcohol or drugs, and criminal and other risky behaviors frequently occur between 2 and 4 pm, according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is also important that any consideration of a school start time change takes into account the impact on families, including transportation, dependence on teens' income, chores and other family responsibilities, and teens' mood and behavior at home.

Changing a school's start time involves a wide array of people-parents, teachers, students, principals, school boards, superintendents, counselors and healthcare professionals, among others. The impact is felt at a community level, but it is also felt individually, and the individuals who are affected need to have their views heard and acknowledged so that discussions can move forward in search of common ground.

Obviously, moving bell times is one major step in a larger picture of ensuring that adolescents get the sleep they need. It will not put more hours in the day, so it is important for teens to know about their sleep needs and have the skills to make a conscious effort to get a good night's sleep. Many teens assume they are expected to function with a lack of sleep, but sleep is not optional; it is biologically necessary. If sleep is incorporated into educational efforts, teens will be armed with information that will enable them to use a later school start time to their advantage.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Later School Start Times: Benefits & Cons - Sleep Foundation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Adolescents today face a widespread chronic health problem: sleep deprivation. Although society often views sleep as a luxury that ambitious or active people cannot afford, research shows that getting enough sleep is a biological necessity, as important to good health as eating well or exercising.

# data[].attributes.headline
Later School Start Times in the US - Carsten B.

# data[].attributes.subject
Later School Start Times in the US - Carsten B.

# data[].attributes.body
This article passed the CRAP test.

2. I think that the authors claim is that a later start time would have great economic benifits for the U.S.
3. I think the authors purpous is to inform people about the economic benifits of later start times.
4. I think this article and author are biased because they only talk about ONE study that found that there would be economic benifits. Also, they say in the beginning that there is opposition, but don't elaborate.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
RAND Europe investigated the economic implications of later school start times in the U.S. through an innovative economic analysis (in 47 U.S. states) of a state-wide universal shift to 8:30 a.m. Using a novel macroeconomic modelling approach, the benefit-cost projections in the study suggested that delaying school start times is a cost-effective policy change, which could have a significant impact on public health and the U.S. economy.

Research Questions

1. What would be the economic impact of a state-wide universal shift in U.S. school start times to 8:30 a.m.?

2. Would a state-wide universal shift in U.S. school times to 8:30 a.m. be a cost-effective policy measure?

Numerous studies have shown that later school start times are associated with positive student outcomes, including improvements in academic performance, mental and physical health, and public safety. While the benefits are well-documented in the literature, there is opposition against delaying school times across the U.S. A major argument is the claim that delaying school start times will result in significant additional costs due to changes in transportation, such as rescheduling bus routes. This study investigates the economic implications of later school start times by examining a policy experiment and its subsequent state-wide economic effects of a state-wide universal shift in school start times to 8:30 a.m.

Using a novel macroeconomic modelling approach, the study estimates changes in the economic performance of 47 U.S. states following a delayed school start time, which includes the benefits of higher academic performance of students and reduced car crash rates. The benefit-cost projections of this study suggest that delaying school start times is a cost-effective, population-level strategy which could have a significant impact on public health and the U.S. economy. From a policy perspective, the study's findings demonstrate the significant economic gains resulting from the delay in school start times over a relatively short period of time following the adoption of the policy change.

Key Findings

The study suggested that delaying school start times to 8:30 a.m. is a cost-effective, population-level strategy which could have a significant impact on public health and the U.S. economy.

The study suggested that the benefits of later start times far out-weigh the immediate costs. Even after just two years, the study projects an economic gain of $8.6 billion to the U.S. economy, which would already outweigh the costs per student from delaying school start times to 8:30 a.m.

After a decade, the study showed that delaying schools start times would contribute $83 billion to the U.S. economy, with this increasing to $140 billion after 15 years. During the 15 year period examined by the study, the average annual gain to the U.S. economy would about $9.3 billion each year.

Throughout the study's cost-benefit projections, a conservative approach was undertaken which did not include other effects from insufficient sleep, such as higher suicide rates, increased obesity and mental health issues - all of which are difficult to quantify precisely. Therefore, it is likely that the reported economic benefits from delaying school start times could be even higher across many U.S. states.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Introduction

Chapter Two

Methodological approach

Chapter Three

The economic implications of later school start times

Chapter Four

Summary and discussion

Appendix A

The overlapping generations model

Appendix B

Derivation of educational attainment data

Appendix C

Net increase in sleep length

Appendix D

Benefit-cost ratios per student ("Very High" cost scenario)

The research described in this report was conducted by RAND Europe.

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Citation

Format:

Hafner, Marco, Martin Stepanek, and Wendy M. Troxel, Later school start times in the U.S.: An economic analysis. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2017. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2109.html.

Hafner, Marco, Martin Stepanek, and Wendy M. Troxel, Later school start times in the U.S.: An economic analysis, Santa Monica, Calif.: RAND Corporation, RR-2109-RE, 2017. As of February 04, 2022: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2109.html

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Starting School Later Could Boost the Economy

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RAND Europe investigated the economic implications of later school start times in the U.S. through an innovative economic analysis (in 47 U.S. states) of a state-wide universal shift to 8:30 a.m. Using a novel macroeconomic modelling approach, the benefit-cost projections in the study suggested that delaying school start times is a cost-effective policy change, which could have a significant impact on public health and the U.S.

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