Dear Committee Members,
First, thank you for taking on the important task of exploring the idea of moving public school start times in West Hartford. I am grateful that this committee sees the value in reviving this long-debated issue. Given the irrefutable scientific data available to us now as parents, educators and leaders, I am writing you today in strong support of moving school start times later.
Specifically, I support Wake Up West Hartford’s proposal of starting high schools no earlier than 8:00am, as recommended by the CDC, the AMA, the AAP and the APA.
When our town last considered this issue, we did not have at our disposal the numerous studies on this subject that point so clearly to the need for schools to begin no earlier than 8:00am. In the interceding years, we have learned that moving high school start times is especially critical for the health and wellbeing of our teens. We have learned that:
* Later start times have been shown to result in improved mental health, specifically reduced anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and substance use.
* Later start times have been shown to result in fewer tardies and truancies, greater graduation rates, and improved academics and test scores—-especially for the lowest performing students.
* Later start times have been shown to result in improved health, fewer school days missed due to illness, reduced traffic accidents, and reduced sports injuries.
You are undoubtedly already aware of the many school districts across the country who have moved start times later and who are reporting incredible results from their communities. In most cases, children in those communities are getting more sleep, their academic performance is improving, and parents are relieved that some of the daily stress put on their children has been alleviated.
I understand that there might be concerns expressed from families who must adjust to new schedules, and from organizers of extra curricular activities who must also adjust. I believe that these are issues to be worked through, not reasons to forego the adjustment of our school schedules.
The health of our children must be our primary concern.
Thank you again for the important work you are doing for our community, and for considering my support of moving school start times later.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
March 6, 2018
Reached 100 supporters
March 2, 2018
101 Comments
As a therapist, we are seeing alarming rates of depression, anxiety, substance use and other mental health disorders among our youth. We know later start times makes a difference in this. Let’s do everything we can to create a climate in which our children can thrive through their high school years.
My kids graduated HS a few years ago but I hope that this positive change will help later generations of students. Very few grown adults could cope with this schedule, much less teens with developing brains.
I am a freshman at Hall, and have struggled with getting enough sleep every night. Between Concert Jazz Band during Pops N Jazz season and homework, I count myself lucky if I get 6 hours of sleep every night. This also has a cumulative effect, and by Friday I can barely function at school.
Having reasonable start times for school, and thus a reasonable amount of time to sleep, would make the management of my depression significantly easier.
Fully support switching elementary and high school start times. The little ones naturally wake up earlier and our high schoolers need extra morning sleep. Thanks!
I believe that a later start time for HS and MS is a viable option. Given the importance of high school and the increasing demands placed on high school students, changing school start times has a longer term higher benefit for the students. The thoroughness of the committee's work is apparent on the WHPS website.
I support later school start times for West Hartford!
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Dear Committee Members,
First, thank you for taking on the important task of exploring the idea of moving public school start times in West Hartford. I am grateful that this committee sees the value in reviving this long-debated issue. Given the irrefutable scientific data available to us now as parents, educators and leaders, I am writing you today in strong support of moving school start times later.
Specifically, I support Wake Up West Hartford’s proposal of starting high schools no earlier than 8:00am, as recommended by the CDC, the AMA, the AAP and the APA.
When our town last considered this issue, we did not have at our disposal the numerous studies on this subject that point so clearly to the need for schools to begin no earlier than 8:00am. In the interceding years, we have learned that moving high school start times is especially critical for the health and wellbeing of our teens. We have learned that:
* Later start times have been shown to result in improved mental health, specifically reduced anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and substance use.
* Later start times have been shown to result in fewer tardies and truancies, greater graduation rates, and improved academics and test scores—-especially for the lowest performing students.
* Later start times have been shown to result in improved health, fewer school days missed due to illness, reduced traffic accidents, and reduced sports injuries.
You are undoubtedly already aware of the many school districts across the country who have moved start times later and who are reporting incredible results from their communities. In most cases, children in those communities are getting more sleep, their academic performance is improving, and parents are relieved that some of the daily stress put on their children has been alleviated.
I understand that there might be concerns expressed from families who must adjust to new schedules, and from organizers of extra curricular activities who must also adjust. I believe that these are issues to be worked through, not reasons to forego the adjustment of our school schedules.
The health of our children must be our primary concern.
Thank you again for the important work you are doing for our community, and for considering my support of moving school start times later.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
March 6, 2018
Reached 100 supporters
March 2, 2018
101 Comments
I support the change. After 8:30 is recommended by pediatricians. Given this is a public health issue, I hope WHPS will implement a positive change as soon as possible. Sleep is not a luxury. It's time to align school schedules to match the time of day when students will be awake and prepared to learn.
As a therapist, we are seeing alarming rates of depression, anxiety, substance use and other mental health disorders among our youth. We know later start times makes a difference in this. Let’s do everything we can to create a climate in which our children can thrive through their high school years.
My kids graduated HS a few years ago but I hope that this positive change will help later generations of students. Very few grown adults could cope with this schedule, much less teens with developing brains.
I am a freshman at Hall, and have struggled with getting enough sleep every night. Between Concert Jazz Band during Pops N Jazz season and homework, I count myself lucky if I get 6 hours of sleep every night. This also has a cumulative effect, and by Friday I can barely function at school.
Having reasonable start times for school, and thus a reasonable amount of time to sleep, would make the management of my depression significantly easier.
Fully support switching elementary and high school start times. The little ones naturally wake up earlier and our high schoolers need extra morning sleep. Thanks!
I believe that a later start time for HS and MS is a viable option. Given the importance of high school and the increasing demands placed on high school students, changing school start times has a longer term higher benefit for the students. The thoroughness of the committee's work is apparent on the WHPS website.
I support later school start times for West Hartford!
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I support the change. After 8:30 is recommended by pediatricians. Given this is a public health issue, I hope WHPS will implement a positive change as soon as possible. Sleep is not a luxury. It's time to align school schedules to match the time of day when students will be awake and prepared to learn.