Why Schools Should Start Later Research Paper

Have you ever felt sleepy during the day? Everybody needs a good night's rest in order to have a good day. Do you know any middle schoolers who would not love an extra thirty minutes of sleep? Most kids in middle school wish that their schools would start later. Schools at every level in the U.S. are struggling with this debate. Studies show that kids are not getting enough sleep and as a result, students are falling asleep in class. Schools should start later because students are not getting enough sleep, they are falling asleep in class, and it is unhealthy. First of all students are not getting enough sleep at home. “Teens need 8.5-9.25 hours of sleep each night,” says Sarah McKibben from ASCD Education Update “Wake Up Call”. According to the article, most kids are not getting this much sleep and that is why they are falling asleep in class. McKibben’s article also states teens in puberty get their best sleep

You need enough sleep so that your body can function properly. Anne Wheaton, in the CDC’s Division of Population Health states, “Getting enough sleep is important for students’ health, safety, and academic performance. Early school start times, however, are preventing many adolescents from getting the sleep they need.” This quote supports my argument for a later start time. Kids need sleep for better academic performance and staying healthy.
Some may argue that starting school later causes problems in the afternoon like after school activities and bus schedules, but if they had these optional activities in the morning before school there would not be a problem with the buses. According to CDC, “... an 8:30 AM start time would allow teenagers to get the recommended 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep a night, so long as they went to bed around 11 PM or 12 AM.” This quote is important because it shows that if kids do go to bed late and school does not start until 8:30, they will still get the recommended amount of