Pennsylvania's secondary school students are facing a preventable health crisis. Early school start times are forcing teenagers to begin their academic day before their biological clocks are ready, creating widespread sleep deprivation with serious consequences for their health, safety, and academic success.
In 2018, the Senate of Pennsylvania adopted Senate Resolution 417 directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the “issues, benefits and options related to instituting a later start time to the school day at secondary schools in the Commonwealth.” The Commission, in October 2019, released its comprehensive report, entitled Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents: A Case for Delaying Secondary School Start Times which revealed that early school start times contribute to chronic sleep deprivation among teenagers, resulting in:
- Increased risk of depression and anxiety.
- Poor academic performance.
- Higher rates of absenteeism and tardiness.
- Increased risk of car accidents.
- Negative impacts on physical health, including obesity and weakened immune function.
The Commission's report identified clear, evidence-based recommendations:
- Start times of 8:30 AM or later for secondary schools, supported by extensive scientific research.
- Sleep health literacy integrated into school health curricula to educate students about healthy sleep practices.
Based on this report, this resolution urges all Pennsylvania school districts to voluntarily adopt later start times for secondary schools. This resolution represents a critical opportunity to prioritize the health and academic success of our students based on solid scientific evidence.
Please contact your State Representative and urge them to support HR273.