The research is clear – later school start times improve the health, safety and academic success of students. California State PTA supports SB 328 (Portantino) to change middle and high school start times in California to no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The bill does not prevent districts from offering zero period.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), “Studies show that adolescents who don’t get enough sleep often suffer physical and mental health problems, an increased risk of automobile accidents and a decline in academic performance.” The AAP recommends “middle and high schools delay the start of class to 8:30 a.m. or later.”
The Center for Disease Control and the American Medical Association agree that these schools should start later. This “will align school schedules to the biological sleep rhythms of adolescents, whose sleep-wake cycles begin to shift up to two hours later at the start of puberty.”
The hearing is scheduled for July 12 and The PTA needs your help again to support this bill!
Follow this link or call your Assembly member by July 12 using the information below.
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