***THIS IS JUST A PILOT PROGRAM, NOT AN OFFICIAL CHANGE TO SCHOOL START TIMES***

As seen on most of the Wake County websites, most schools start at 7:25 AM and end at 2:18 PM; middle schools begin at 8:15 AM and end at 3:00 PM; and elementary schools begin at 9:15 AM and end at 3:45 PM. However, the excessively early school start times are detrimental not just to teen's overall physical and emotional health but also for the well-being of teachers, parents, and bus drivers. Although I am not angry about these start times, I have seen students falling asleep in class, complaining of feelings of tiredness, or not showing up to class at all or very late, which is of concern to me due to how important it is for students to be educated yet also well-rested. It doesn't just affect students - teachers, parents, and transportation drivers (bus drivers specifically) are also affected by our current school start times.

According to the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, early school start times are cited a reason for chronic sleep deprivation. The CDC also lists that only 4 out of 10 middle schoolers and 3 out of 10 high schoolers meet the required 8 - 12 hours of sleep. The National Education Association also lists the benefits of a Colorado school districts 1 hour delay in school start time: less stress and gaining more hours of sleep, not just among students but also amongst parents and teachers. Interestingly enough, teens circadian rhythms are shown to be altered during puberty, which leads to less feelings of tiredness until later into the night. Finally, according to the National Education Association noticed that, with a 35 minute change in start time for Seattle Public School students, final grades in the Biology course reported a grade increase of 4.5; that the University of Minnesota found a 0.1 GPA increase when school start times were pushed back by 65 minutes; and that teachers in BOTH high and middle schools in Colorado felt less stress with a 40-70 minute later start time.

One specific study by Clearvue Health highlights a Rhode Island school district's change of start time to 8:30 AM. With that change came the following benefits, as seen with the graphic at the top of the petition: a decrease of daytime sleepiness from 50% to 20%; a decrease in tiredness from 90% to 66%; and a decrease of irritability from 66% to 41%.

There are many benefits when it comes to a later school start time: ameliorating mental health issues; ameliorating academic performance; ameliorating the amount of sleep and readiness of students, parents, and teachers alike; preventing the absence of students as a result of sleepiness; and preventing symptoms of sleep deprivation.

There are also several concerns regarding current school start times, too. 2 out of 3 U.S. high school students get < 8 hours of sleep on weeknights. According to the NIH, sleep deprivation among adolescents results from schoolwork, extracurriculars and jobs, not having a set bedtime, and using technology after bedtime. Also according to the NIH, sleep deprivation can lead to the following negative behaviors: risk-taking behaviors, such as drug and alcohol abuse; increased crankiness, leading to violence; and increased rates in anxiety and depression. Lastly, early school start times for elementary school students doesn't have the same negative effects when it comes to high schoolers, stating that, with a change of elementary school start times, the same concerns with high schoolers won't be reflected with elementary school students. 

In addition to these benefits, California has a mandate where high schools cannot start before 8:30 AM, which is a response to prioritizing the health of high schoolers based on the research from the CDC, the NIH, and the AAP.

Although I am not criticizing Wake County for the start times, I would kindly request that WCPSS run a 2 week pilot test program where students whose base school is Cary High School to begin at 8:45 AM and end at 3:15 PM - only about one hour and 5 minutes ahead. I would also kindly request that school administrators notice any changes with the start times and request feedback from students, teachers, and parents alike to discuss whether these changes are beneficial or not. 

For middle and elementary schools - I would kindly request a start time of 9:15 AM for 2 weeks under the test program for students whose base school is East Cary Middle School, with the end time being at 3:45 PM. Lastly, I would kindly request that students whose base school is Cary Elementary have a start time of 7:45 AM and an end time of 2:30 PM. I would also kindly request that school administrators notice any changes with the start times and request feedback from students, teachers, and parents alike to discuss whether these changes are beneficial or not. 

I will tolerate constructive criticism if necessary, but I would like to see the benefits of later school start times on high schoolers and middle schoolers. I am passionate about education and growth among our students, but at the same time I am worried that our current start times are inhibiting the growth, the effort put into school, and the education that our students need in order to students to succeed.

To sum up the petition: I am neither angry nor disappointed with the current school start times. I just am curious to see whether or not we achieve success with our many students with school start times based on the evidence that I have provided above, seeing how California state laws mandate schools start no earlier than 8:30 AM. I hope that we will be able to succeed but also be able to maintain a healthy life. 

(If anything is bolded, it is either evidence or the action that I recommend that WCPSS takes)