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When the Bell Rings Later Why some districts push back middle school start times

The Problem: Sleep and School Clocks Circadian rhythm is the body's internal clock that regulates sleep. "Most teenagers cannot fall asleep before 11 p.m.," said Dr. Laila Chen. Sleep debt is the gap between needed rest and actual sleep. Yet many middle schools still ring the first bell before 8 a.m. When school starts too early, students arrive drowsy and learn less in first period. Photo: A bus stop at 6:40 a.m., students yawning under streetlights. "Later starts are a health intervention, not a luxury," Dr. Chen noted.

Comparing Two Districts District East kept a 7:25 a.m. start and saw rising tardiness. East added a before-school study hall, but it was sparsely attended. District West moved the start to 8:45 a.m. after a pilot.

Table: Start Times and Outcomes (Semester After Change)

• East — Start Time: 7:25 a.m.; Avg Weeknight Sleep: 6.6 hours; Tardiness Change: +12%; First-Period Grades: no change.
• West — Start Time: 8:45 a.m.; Avg Weeknight Sleep: 8.1 hours; Tardiness Change: -18%; First-Period Grades: +9%.

Causes and Solutions After the shift, West buses ran later, but routes cost less overtime. Transportation staff said fewer drivers needed double shifts to cover routes. Parents reported smoother mornings and fewer last-minute rides. Coaches shifted practices, and injuries during after-school sports dropped 14 percent. Some families worried about after-school jobs, but employers adjusted shifts by thirty minutes. In both districts, state testing days began at the usual time.

Timeline: West's Later Start

• 2021: Student survey found 62 percent felt "tired most mornings."
• Jan 2022: Board voted to pilot a later schedule at West.
• Aug 2022: First bell changed to 8:45 a.m. for all grades.
• Dec 2022: Nurse logs showed 22 percent fewer first-period clinic visits.

Sidebar: Voices from Schools "Attendance improves when sleep debt shrinks," said principal Marco Ruiz.

When the Bell Rings Later Why some districts push back middle school start times

The Problem: Sleep and School Clocks Circadian rhythm is the body's internal clock that regulates sleep. "Most teenagers cannot fall asleep before 11 p.m.," said Dr. Laila Chen. Sleep debt is the gap between needed rest and actual sleep. Yet many middle schools still ring the first bell before 8 a.m. When school starts too early, students arrive drowsy and learn less in first period. Photo: A bus stop at 6:40 a.m., students yawning under streetlights. "Later starts are a health intervention, not a luxury," Dr. Chen noted.

Comparing Two Districts District East kept a 7:25 a.m. start and saw rising tardiness. East added a before-school study hall, but it was sparsely attended. District West moved the start to 8:45 a.m. after a pilot.

Table: Start Times and Outcomes (Semester After Change)

• East — Start Time: 7:25 a.m.; Avg Weeknight Sleep: 6.6 hours; Tardiness Change: +12%; First-Period Grades: no change.
• West — Start Time: 8:45 a.m.; Avg Weeknight Sleep: 8.1 hours; Tardiness Change: -18%; First-Period Grades: +9%.

Causes and Solutions After the shift, West buses ran later, but routes cost less overtime. Transportation staff said fewer drivers needed double shifts to cover routes. Parents reported smoother mornings and fewer last-minute rides. Coaches shifted practices, and injuries during after-school sports dropped 14 percent. Some families worried about after-school jobs, but employers adjusted shifts by thirty minutes. In both districts, state testing days began at the usual time.

Timeline: West's Later Start

• 2021: Student survey found 62 percent felt "tired most mornings."
• Jan 2022: Board voted to pilot a later schedule at West.
• Aug 2022: First bell changed to 8:45 a.m. for all grades.
• Dec 2022: Nurse logs showed 22 percent fewer first-period clinic visits.

Sidebar: Voices from Schools "Attendance improves when sleep debt shrinks," said principal Marco Ruiz.