Updated October 15th, 2019 at 22:57 IST

California becomes First US State to push back school start time

California has become the first state in the country to push back start times at most public based schools to enhance the performance of the school students.

World News
2 min read

Follow:

| Image:self

California has become the first state in the country to push back start times at most public based schools in the expectation that the measure will enable youths to perform better in class. The new law was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 13 which states the middle schools to commence classes no earlier than 8 am and high schools no earlier than 8:30 am. The new law would be effective from July 1, 2022.

READ: Do California Power Shutoffs Work? Hard To Know, Experts Say

The bill was supported by the opposition lawmakers

Most of the schools in California currently start the day around 8 am and some schools require students to be present in the class before 7:30 am. Newsom said according to a study, the teenage students who start their day later increase their academic performance, attendance and overall health. Critically, the law permits three years for schools and school districts to plan and execute these progressions. The new measure has received support from different medical associations including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the California Medical Association. The bill was supported by the opposition lawmakers and school districts.

READ: California Power Outages Highlight Economic Disparity

Students need a sufficient amount of sleep: Connie Leyva

State Senator Connie Leyva said students need a sufficient amount of sleep. She added sleep plays an important factor in overall health and improved sleep time for students requires more than just later start times. Levya alongwith other critics noted that the improvised time change will be a struggle for many working parents who may not be able to adjust their schedules.
President of the University of California, Janet Napolitano, said the state would do better to carry out a pilot study on later start times before imposing it on school districts. According to a study, there is a connection between the amount of sleep teenagers get and their school performance. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, insufficient sleep in teenagers affect the overall health and safety as well as the academic record of the students.