High-schoolers need more sleep! Change the time CMS High Schools start!

In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics began to call for all middle and high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 AM. While CMS middle schools generally begin at 8:30 or 9:15, there is a significant discrepancy between the Academy's policy and the start-time of high schools in this district. Most high schools begin at 7:15 in the morning! Our goal is for high school bells to start no earlier than 8:00 AM and end no later than 3:00 PM. For example, 8:00 AM until 2:45 PM should be ample time in the school day, as well as allow sufficient time after school for extracurricular activities and homework. 

We are here to argue that this situation absolutely cannot continue any longer. Those ages 13-18 should be getting 8-10 hours of sleep each night, as both the National Sleep Foundation and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine agree. Many teens have "a strong tendency toward being a 'night owl,' staying up later at night and sleeping longer into the morning," according to sleepfoundation.org. Based on this information, teenagers' sleep cycles are thrown completely off-balance by a start-time of 7:15 in the morning!  Rarely, if ever, do any students get even 8 hours of sleep since it is not realistic due to homework in the evenings and the early wake-up time required to arrive at school before 7:15 AM.  Also, many teachers do not get enough sleep, either, because they have to arrive at school earlier than their students.

Due to this early start-time, an overarching lack of sleep becomes habitual and is detrimental towards development, physical and emotional health, as well as achievement in academics. In addition, a direct correlation between less sleep and fatal activities, including drowsy driving, has been established. The teens in this district should not be at risk of these terrible incidents by starting certain schools earlier and others later.

CMS's vision is for all students to "reach their full potential." This goal simply cannot be accomplished if students are not getting adequate amounts of sleep. Sign the petition to help our cause, check out our website to contribute your thoughts or experiences to our research and campaign (link below), and follow our Instagram: @cmschangethetime. Please sign and send to everyone you know - students, parents, relatives, your pediatrician, community members, etc.!

https://sites.google.com/view/changethetime-charmeckschools/home