Although current schedules do not interfere with transportation routes and allow for parents to rely on the responsibility of their teenage children each afternoon, these early school start times put students at risk of experiencing multiple harmful physical and psychological health effects; therefore, school boards should mandate start times that begin no earlier than 8 in the morning. Multiple negative health effects can be prevented if school boards and education districts mandate later school times. 

Additionally, I would like to see students develop a greater understanding of the importance of adequate sleep and how it can contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Adding lessons regarding sleep patterns, sleep disorders, and drowsy driving to the current curriculum would help to promote healthy sleep habits among teenage students.