School to start later under new law

Local school districts to adjust high school, middle school start times

California is mandating later start times at most middle and high schools under legislation that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law on Sunday.

The legislation, Senate Bill 328, would require that the school day for middle school start no earlier than 8 a.m., and for high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The schedule must be met starting in 2022.

Doreen Osumi, superintendent of Yuba City Unified School District, said the district will need to adjust times for both high schools and one middle school. She said all other middle schools meet the 8 a.m. requirement.

Gary Cena, superintendent of Marysville Joint Unified School District, said they will need to adjust the start times for their high schools, as well. He said Mckenney Intermediate School already meets the 8 a.m. requirement on all school days, Yuba Gardens Intermediate School meets after 8 a.m. on regular days but 7:50 a.m. on minimum days – so it will need to be adjusted.

“Implementing the new law will take some work, flexibility and patience on the part of everyone involved: parents, teachers, coaches, students, businesses where students work after school,” Osumi said. “... Our district will work with the schools, departments and our staff regarding the needed schedule changes and we’ll do our best to communicate with parents and keep them as informed as possible as the changes approach.”

Cena said bus transportation will be a bit of a puzzle for the district. There are also concerns about afterthe

school sports because with school starting later, sports will also likely start later. There are also concerns for working parents.

“One of the biggest concerns is the impact to families when parents’ work schedules conflict with the new start times and parents may not be able to get their children up for school or drive them to school,” Osumi said.

Cena said it could also bring some extra cost to the district – partly because

of the possible need for more busses and drivers

Osumi said most of the staff for the district also works hours that are set out in negotiated labor agreements so a change in those hours “requires working in cooperation with the unions that represent our employees.”

The bill states that the Legislature encourages school districts, charter schools and community organizations to inform communities about the health, safety and academic impacts of sleep deprivation on students and the benefits of later school start times.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is evidence that earlier school start times are a contributor to insufficient sleep for students.

Cena said the later school start times have the potential to help students get more sleep – if they take advantage of it.

“I would hope that people would take advantage of that extra time and not go to bed 40 minutes later,” Cena said.

Osumi said sleep is critical for all students and that things like setting a regular bed time and routine and reducing media use at night can help promote healthy sleep habits.

“Getting enough sleep is essential for our students so that they are more alert in class, maintain good health and are ready to learn each day,” Osumi said. “If the change in start time assists with this, then there is a definite benefit.”

Cena said, while this does present some things to work out, they ultimately want to do what’s best for students.

“We always want to do what’s best for students,” Cena said. “... The more sleep, really for any of us, but especially teenagers get the stronger they will be.”