Make School Start Times Later
Many studies have shown that children perform better in school and are healthier If they wake up later. According to the Mayo Clinic, school-age children need at least ten to eleven hours of sleep every night. High school children start school at about 7:45 am. If they wake up at 6:45, they would have to go to bed by 8:45 pm in order to get just ten hours of sleep. How many teenagers go to bed by 8:45? Many first graders aren't even in bed by then. WebMD.com says that not getting enough sleep can cause memory and cognitive impairment and is linked to many medical illnesses such as ADD, depression, obesity, and even heart failure. Please sign the petition to protect the health of our nation's children and enhance their academic performance.
We the undersigned are concerned about the health and academic performance of our nation's children. Many studies from many different organizations have shown that more sleep leads to better performance in school, and better health. Therefore, we are asking the U.S. Department of Education to make school start times later. Even just one more hour of sleep every day can make a difference in a child's quality of life. We thank you for taking the time to read our petition and we hope that you will take action on this important issue.
