OPINION: New school start times will make student success a priority

Have you ever tried waking up a teenager? We have heard stories of using blaring music, bribery, multiple alarm clocks and even sending in the family dog. Some teens wake up, no problem. But for most of them, according to scientists, early morning is tough because of physiological reasons linked to the natural circadian rhythms of adolescence. It can be maddening for parents to go through this daily routine and hard on educators trying to plow through first hour of class with students in a state of not-totally-awake, but we know from science there are more far-reaching effects: Modern, early school start times are bad for the health and safety of our students.

The good news is that after seven years of surveys, studies and hearing from our community and community partners, the Anchorage School District (ASD) recommended making the shift and the Anchorage School Board voted in agreement this week. As a result, school start times will be adjusted for all students beginning in the fall of 2024. The new start times will be elementary school, 8 a.m.; high school, 8:45 a.m.; and middle school, 9:30 a.m.

Over the past 70 years, start times for students moved earlier and earlier, not because of student needs but to better match factory clock-in times for parents as American manufacturing and industry flourished. More recently, in looking at growing levels of stress, anxiety, depression and even car crashes on the way to school, researchers found many of the problems were due to sleep deprivation. While school start times were managed in the past as a scheduling matter, it has negatively impacted the health of our society for decades. Fortunately, it is not too late to reverse this trend.

In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that U.S. middle and high schools start at or after 8:30 am. During the 2016-2017 school year, ASD began the process of fully investigating this recommendation.

ASD has held dozens of focus groups, met with business organizations, heard from parents and students, and interacted with hundreds of people through town hall meetings and collected surveys on school start times from more than 10,000 people.

Meanwhile, in Lower 48 districts that have already implemented the change, there have been documented improvements in middle and high school student performance and wellness.

Research shows that middle and high school students who get eight hours or more of sleep experience less depression, have more energy, are less likely to use tobacco and consume junk food and make better decisions. In addition, researchers have seen improved grades and GPAs, higher test scores, less tardiness, and increased attendance rates and graduation percentages. Less car accidents happen in areas where school starts later.

In Anchorage, while updating the student nutrition policy and launching new programs, school start times came up because sleep deprivation causes people to crave salt, fat and sugary snacks in a time of decreased healthy habits and increased obesity among young people. Again and again, data and public opinion points to the same action step needed: Anchorage needs to start school later.

While our modern society boasts breakthroughs making daily life easier in many ways, many young people are experiencing increased stress and anxiety. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues and families have asked for help.

The Anchorage School Board is taking steps needed to support students such as updating our wellness policies and hiring new wellness staff to better coordinate the social emotional activities that ASD offers. Changing school start times is another tool and a science-backed solution we can implement now.

In addition to wellness and well-being, we must also remember the broader impact of prioritizing student health. As Anchorage rebuilds the post-pandemic economy, students from the Anchorage School District are part of the equation. Students are the current and future workforce, and they will be the next innovators and investors of the place we call home. We ask this community to read up on school start times on the ASD website and join us in answering a wake-up call we all need to listen to, not just our teenagers.

Margo Bellamy is the president of the Anchorage School Board. Anna Ogena, MD; Jody Butto, MD; Kevin Kollins, MD; and Lily Lou, MD are members of the executive board of the American Association of Pediatrics’ Alaska chapter.

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