California Senator Anthony Portantino (D- La Cañada Flintridge) proposed Senate Bill 328 which is designed to benefit middle and high school students.
The bill states that by July 1, 2020 schools will have to start the day no earlier than 8:30 A.M. not including zero period.
Although it wouldn’t affect the seniors this year, freshmen would experience the change.
Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that teenagers who don’t get enough sleep have a higher chance of developing psychological and educational problems.
Students who have an inadequate amount of sleep are more prone to exhibit depression, anxiety, stress, imparied judgement, and lack of impulse control. Skipping on sleep is dangerous for developing teenagers.
Current schedules for most schools in California were created to match the biological schedules of the average adult.
However, the bill would properly allow students to learn at their optimum working hours.
“I know many students are busy with homework, sports, and extra curricular activities and having to wake up so early is exhausting,” Sophomore Kelly Der said. “If the bill passed, students like me would be able to juggle more activities and actually have free time.”
The same day Portantino’s bill passed the State Senate, La Cañada High School voted to move their school start time from 7:45 to 8:30 A.M. on May 30. TCUSD has not made any move towards changing their schedule as of yet.
The bill has already been passed by the State Senate. As of now the assembly’s Education Committee has approved it, and it awaits approval by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. A final all-Assembly vote remains, and a signature by Governor Jerry Brown.
TCHS School Newspaper