A study was conducted in sleep
research centers in Providence, Rhode Island; to determine the
effects of a later school start time.
At this boarding school the schedule was altered, with a
later start time, changing from 8:00 to 8:25.
The effects of this study were seen in the changes in the proportion of
students who took naps, fell asleep during class, were tardy to
class, were too tired to complete their studies, were too tired to
socialize, and were too tired to participate in athletic events.
When classes commenced at 8:00, 25% of students were late to
class at least once a week.
However when the school start time was changed to 8:25, the
proportion of students late to class at least once a week fell to
16%. This study used a
chi-square homogeneity test to determine whether the proportions of
each category changed from one start time to the next.
Their X²=5.69 and their p-value was 0.0171, so at the 0.05
level of significance they were able to reject their null
hypothesis, concluding that the proportion of students late to class
at least once a week significantly differed from one start time to
the other. For this
study, 1,052 students were surveyed, and they were testing that a
later start time would decrease daytime sleepiness and increase
sleep duration. Paired
t-tests were also used to compare the differences in health related
outcomes of students.
The purpose of the study was to determine whether a later start time
increased sleep duration, therefore decreasing negative health
issues, such as depression, sleepiness, and caffeine consumption.
Early school start times are a debated issue among many
educators because many feel these lead to increased depression,
unhealthy habits, and sleepiness that can affect grades and overall
function. A study was
conducted in Minneapolis high schools where the school start time
was changed from 7:15 to 8:40.
Another study was conducted in Edina where start times were
changed from 7:25 to 8:30.
This second study was carried out because both cities varied
based on race and economic variability, so that the results would be
more valid. The results
in both of these studies despite diverse conditions resulted in a
more alert and productive student body.
As well, tardiness decreased, attendance increased, and
overall grades improved.
In a study published in Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine,
the effects of a later start time from 8:00 to 8:30 were studied at
a private New England high school.
Not only were student attitudes improved but teachers
recorded a decrease in tardiness by 45%.
In a study conducted by the University of Minnesota, eight
public high schools in 5 different districts in Minnesota, Colorado,
and Wyoming, the grades earned, attendance, tardiness, and
standardized test scores were recorded based on a start time change
from 7:35 to 8:55. In
over half of the schools included in the study, the difference in
mean tardiness between the two start times was proved to be a
statistically significant decrease. When the start time was changed
from 7:35 to 8:55, the proportion of students who slept for 8 hours
or more increased from 44.2% to 66.2%.
This suggests that a later start time allows more students to
get more sleep each night.
Overall, most studies
show that a later school start time has a positive effect on
tardiness, bringing the rates down, and a positive impact on overall student attitude
and performance.
WORKS CITED
http://www.gwern.net/docs/melatonin/2014-boergers.pdf
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/23/health/la-he-school-time-20100823
http://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/11299/162769/1/Impact%20of%20Later%20Start%20Time%20Final%20Report.pdf