To improve kids' mental health, some schools start later

DREXEL HILL, Pa. — In the hours before he's due at Upper Darby High School, senior Khalid Doulat has time to say prayers, help his mother or prepare for track practice.

The idea of later school start times, pushed by many over the years as a way to help adolescents get more sleep, is getting a new look as a way to address the mental health crisis affecting teens across the U.S. “We had a lot of those things that we were facing and we’re still working our way through it; we’re in a much better place,” McGarry said. “I think our kids feel better. They’re not 100% better." But, he said, much of the social anxiety students felt after being in online school has dissipated.

The reasons why high schools start as early as they do — many begin their day before 7:30 a.m. — are “lost to the sands of history," Buxton said. But now, he said, ”everything is baked into that: traffic light patterns, bus schedules and adults’ work.”Large school systems including Denver, Philadelphia and Anchorage, Alaska, have been looking into later start times.At Upper Darby High, the school day technically still begins at 7:30 a.m.

Principal Matthew Alloway said educators have noticed fewer students sleeping in class. The new schedule also has allowed"kids to go to school for exactly what they need,” he said. About 400 of the school’s 4,250 students attend only through virtual learning — an option it offered to compete with online schools.

Other challenges wrought by the pandemic — teacher shortages, for one — have also benefitted from the schedule change, administrators said. Teachers can take care of themselves and their families in the morning. Administrators have more time to replace staffers who call out sick.

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To improve kids’ mental health, some schools start laterAt least nine states are considering legislation related to school start times, up from four the previous year, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures.
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To improve kids’ mental health, some schools start laterAt least nine states are considering legislation related to school start times, up from four the previous year, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures.
Source: WTVYNews4 - 🏆 590. / 51 Read more »

To improve kids' mental health, some schools start laterThe idea of later school start times, pushed by many over the years as a way to help adolescents get more sleep, is getting a new look as a way to address the mental health crisis affecting teens across the U.S. Nationally, at least nine states are considering legislation related to school start times, up from four the previous year, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. For some schools, the pandemic allowed experimentation to try new schedules. Large school systems including Denver, Philadelphia and Anchorage, Alaska, have been looking into later start times.
Source: AP - 🏆 728. / 51 Read more »

To improve kids' mental health, some schools start laterThe idea of later school start times, pushed by many over the years as a way to help adolescents get more sleep, is getting a new look as a way to address the mental health crisis affecting teens across the U.S. Nationally, at least nine states are considering legislation related to school start times, up from four the previous year, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures
Source: WOKVNews - 🏆 247. / 63 Read more »