Could later start times benefit students? Study says yes

For many teenagers, waking up for school is a struggle, one parents say they know all too well.

“Those high-schoolers are still asleep at 8:30 [when they are at school], I think 9 a.m. as a start time is a great idea,” parent Sheila Schmid said.

A new study says school start times should be later.

“I think it's a great idea,” Schmid said.

The best case scenario is that school would start after 8:30 a.m. According to pediatricians like Dr. Ben Hoffman, teenagers need good, solid sleep.

“We know most teens need 8.5 to 9 hours for them to function at the top of their game. We also know they get best quality of sleep between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.,” Hoffman said.

Some school districts have shifted their schedules and are seeing the benefits.

“There are fewer crashes on the way to school, school performance is better and absenteeism... there are tons of benefits,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman acknowledges with change comes some difficulty, especially for parents and scheduling, but he says the benefits outweigh the cons.

“I'm not at all pretending that this would be easy, but if we don't start with the frame of what’s best for kids and address that need we are not going to get anywhere,” Hoffman said.

And parents like Schmid agree.

“I think as far as the quality of their experience which is really the most important part that 9am is a good think to work towards,” Schmid said.

While no official proposal has been made, many school districts have discussed the idea of later start times.