Teens across America experience sleep deprivation. Recent studies show teenagers learn better later in the day, therefore the school board needs to make school times later.

Classes begin at 7:25 a.m. in the Mansfield high schools and most buses pick up students from their bus stop around or before 6 a.m. This means students wake up at about 5 a.m. School ends at 2:55 p.m. Moving the start time back, even by an hour, would place students’ instruction time in the prime hours for learning and allow more sleep for students.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens need a minimum of nine and a quarter hours of sleep each night to function at their best. Studies also show that only 15 percent of teens reported sleeping eight and a half hours on school nights, however, most students go to sleep about 11 p.m. Giving students an extra hour of sleep in the morning would increase a teenager’s total sleep hours.

As a result of the loss of sleep, studies also showed students may experience: memory and cognitive impairment, inability to pay attention, shortened mental sharpness, uncreative problem solving, overall mood and motivation, and the potential of accumulating more pimples. According to the National Sleep Foundation and WebMD, these effects could lead to other disorderly consequences like narcolepsy, insomnia, restless legs syndrome or sleep apnea. Lack of alertness could lead to accidents and affect plans later in the day. Also, students need sleep in order to succeed in the classroom. If they suffer from sleep deprivation, paying attention and showing effort becomes more difficult. An hour extra of sleep per night multiplied by 20 days a month results in a significant sleep increase therefore resulting in better mental concentration on school work.

Not only is more sleep required, the study shows a teenager’s body functions better later in the day. On the current schedule, MISD students fight a natural biological force. Melatonin releases later in the day for teens causing students to be awake in the evening. Even if a student gets 10 hours of sleep, students will be naturally sleepy in early the hours because of their biological clock. Adjusting the school start time benefits a student’s natural learning habits.

A school district in Minnesota moved start times from 7:25 a.m. to 8:30 and saw increased attendance, more alertness, less depression and better grades overall.

In addition to homework, some teens also have jobs. Students, however, could utilize their time before school, instead of working late into the night, to finish up assignments if school started later. This would prepare students more thoroughly for the day, because they would be able to complete homework and therefore, be less tired. Better preparation and sleep may increase alertness, attentiveness and concentration. Gradually, grades would improve, while also boosting the school’s time investment in their students.

If school times remain the same, students will continue to feel tired and drained throughout the day. Early start times and lack of sleep can cause grades to fall.

Bus schedules are one reason for earlier school start times. Moving the start time in all schools in MISD would not affect the daily bus schedule.

Therefore, grades would improve and effective student learning and improve teen’s lives if the start time was pushed back. The school board should change school starting times for later in the morning.

Please visit The Ultimate Guide to Teen Sleep for more information.