Is a New Start Time in Your
Future?
John Matthews
Retired Director of Transportation
Montgomery County Public Schools
1998-99 Past President ASBO
Do YOU Get Enough Sleep
HOUSE BILL 883
Signed by Governor 5/15/14
Ways and Means/Education, Health, and
Environmental Affairs
Introduced by Delegates: A. Miller, Arora, Barkley,
Barve, Bobo, Boteler, Carr, Cullison, Dumais, Fraser–
Hidalgo, Frick, George, Gutierrez, Guzzone, Hucker,
A. Kelly, McMillan, Pena–Melnyk, S. Robinson, F.
Turner, and A. Washington A. Washington, and
Cardin
MD House of Delegates
HB 883
• Requires the Office of Public Health Services in
the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• to conduct a certain study of safe and healthy
school hours for Maryland public schools,
• consult with certain persons,
• make recommendations relating to alternative
school day starting times
• generally relating to a study of safe and healthy
school hours for public schools in Maryland.
In conducting the study required under subsection (a) of this
section, the
Office of Public Health Services shall:
• review the science on the sleep needs of children and
adolescents, including effects of sleep deprivation on
academic performance and benefits of sufficient sleep;
• review and study how other school systems have
implemented alternative school day starting times and
how various activities in those school systems were
impacted and scheduled around the changes;
• consult with the following persons:
State Board of Education
Maryland boards of education Association of Boards of Education
Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland
Maryland State Education Association
Maryland Association of School Principals
State Department of Education
A mental health professional who specializes in young adult and adolescent
health issues
The School Psychologists Association;
A pediatrician who has expertise in adolescent health care
The Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
A doctor who specializes in child and adolescent sleep disorders
The Maryland Sleep Society
The Maryland Department of Transportation
Start School Later
The Maryland PTA
A student enrolled in a Maryland public high school
An athletic director or a coach employed by a
Maryland public middle or high school who has expertise in after–school sports
activities
One representative of the Maryland School
Psychologist Association; and
HOUSE BILL 883
• Make recommendations regarding whether
public schools in the State should establish a
policy regarding a school starting time of 8:00
a.m. or later.
• On or before December 31, 2014, the Task
Force the Office of Public
Montgomery County History
1993: First Concerted Effort on Bell Times
– For $800k savings at the expense of sleep
• Standardized school day by level
• Began most high schools earlier
– Most 15–20 minutes earlier
– One 25, one 30, one 50 minutes earlier (one 5 min. later)
Standardized Bell Times First Established
High
Middle
Elementary 1
Elementary 2
7:25 a.m.–2:10 p.m.
7:55 a.m.–2:40 p.m.
8:50 a.m.–3:05 p.m.
9:15 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
History 4
• 1997: Studies emerge on the harmful effects
of sleep deprivation on teenagers from:
– Brown University
– Stanford University
– University of California
Studies Revealed
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Inability to change sleep desire/patterns
13–25 year olds need 9.25 hours of sleep
Average high school student gets 7.25 hours
Onset of sleepiness occurs around 11:00 p.m.
Naturally resist sleep before 11:00 p.m.
Cannot artificially change circadian rhythm
This science has not changed and is well reconfirmed
and documented
Benefit Claims
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Improved academic performance
Reduced irritability
Improved decision-making
Reduced incidences of depression
Reduced incidences of traffic accidents
Improved health and quality of life
Other Social benefits
– Reduced teen pregnancy
– Reduced after-school teen crime
Around the Area
• Loudon now: All high schools 9:00 a.m.–
3:48 p.m.
• Arlington: Switched middle school and high
school and delayed 2001
• Fairfax: RFP for vendor implementation
• Anne Arundel ?
• Howard ?
• Garrett?
Elsewhere
• Edina Minnesota, early 90’s
• Few places found that also implemented
• No consistent outcomes academically
• Not many schools changed throughout the US
Stakeholder Concerns
• Impact to after-school activities
– Sports
– Jobs—financial support for some families
– Day care
• Balancing the needs of high school students
on middle and elementary students
• Cost vs. Performance Gains
• Performance Gains vs. Other Benefits
Answers
• Complex
• Involves many stakeholder groups/interests
• Likely to have budgetary impact
Survey: What is the impact to your
system?
• How many have schools (any level) that start
before 8:00 a.m.?
• How many have only high schools that start
before 8:00 a.m.?
• What would the impact be to your
organization?
• Discussion
DISCUSSION