Improving Student Health with Traditional School Start Times

We, the undersigned, request that the York County School Division return high school to a traditional start time of 8 am or later. Prior to 1994, York County middle and high school students started at 8:20 am, while elementary schools began at 9 am. Today, York County high schools have the earliest school start times in the state of Virginia with class beginning at 7:20 am. Seventy-three of ninety-five counties in Virginia start high school at 8 am or later.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends school start times of 8:30 am or later to prevent sleep deprivation in middle and high school students. Medical research confirms that natural sleep patterns undergo a "phase shift" during puberty, causing teenagers to become night owls and late risers. Hormones that regulate sleep make it difficult for teens to fall asleep before 11 pm. These same hormones make it very difficult for teens to wake and be alert in the early morning. Therefore, the vast majority of teenagers attending early starting schools meet the morning bell in a sleep-deprived state. The consequences of this sleep deprivation are severe and impact our students' physical and mental health.
According to research cited in www.schoolstarttime.org, the advantages for students at schools with traditional start times are:
- increased likelihood of sleeping the recommended average of 9 hours per night (which helps prevent sleeping in class)
- better academic performance due to improved memory, attention, and motivation (Brookings Institution economists report that improved performance is equivalent to two extra months in school.)
- significantly fewer automobile accidents (driving drowsy is just as dangerous as driving drunk)
- fewer reports of depression and suicide
- healthier physical habits (less obesity and drug abuse)
- lower tardiness, truancy, and drop-out rates
- improved performance in athletics, leading to fewer injuries
We acknowledge scheduling challenges, such as juggling bus schedules without major cost increases, rescheduling extracurricular activities, reconfiguring before- and after-school care for younger children, and accommodating high school student work schedules.
We believe the school system should first consider what is best for the educational needs of York County students and find solutions to logistical or scheduling problems that conflict with a more traditional school schedule.
Adolescents need a school schedule that accommodates their sleep patterns and has them in class at times when they are mentally alert. The current schedule is detrimental to their health, well-being and academic performance. We believe a traditional high school start time will help our students achieve their highest academic potential, while improving their emotional health and reducing behavior problems.
We urge the York County School Superintendent, the School Board and the Board of Supervisors to act as quickly as possible to make this important change on behalf of our students.