School day starts too early, CDC report says

Post date: Aug 8, 2015 3:51:41 AM

By Emma Brown WASHINGTON POST AUGUST 07, 2015

WASHINGTON — Five of six middle schools and high schools nationwide start classes earlier than 8:30 a.m., making it difficult for teens to get the sleep they need to be healthy, according to a report published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Summary

What is already known on this topic?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has urged middle and high schools to modify school start times to enable adolescent students to get sufficient sleep and improve their health, safety, academic performance, and quality of life. AAP recommends that schools aim to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

What is added by this report?

During the 2011–12 school year, before publication of the new AAP recommendations, only 17.7% of public middle and high schools in the United States started school at 8:30 a.m. or later. The percentage varied greatly by state, ranging from 0% in Hawaii, Mississippi, and Wyoming to more than three quarters of schools in Alaska (76.8%) and North Dakota (78.5%).

What are the implications for public health practice?

School start time policies are established at the district and individual school levels. Educating parents and school system decision-makers about the impact of sleep deprivation on adolescent health and academic performance might lead to adoption of later start times.