The Washington Post – Donna St. George
“Parents in Montgomery County made impassioned pleas Thursday for later high school start times, telling personal stories of teenagers who barely function in the pre-dawn darkness, fall asleep during early classes and fight chronic exhaustion. In two public hearings, an overwhelming majority supported shifting the hours of the school day, some bringing handmade placards and others attending with pajama-clad children. Many cited research findings. Some called for political courage. Dozens of people testified, including students, educators and sleep experts…The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends middle and high school start times at 8:30 a.m. or later. Sleep experts say adolescents are biologically wired for later bedtimes and wake-ups and that lack of rest is linked to problems including an increased risk of depression, weight problems and car crashes. Teenagers need between 8 1/2 and 9 1/2 hours of sleep a night, according to the experts.”(more)