Presentation to School Committee December 6, 2018

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Laura Martin
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1 Presentation to School Committee December 6,

2 COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP~ CO-CHAIRS: KATE BOYNTON, CHRIS KELLEY, LYNNA WILLIAMS SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER, ELAINE WEBB STAFF MEMBERS: JESS BAILEY, SANDY CALANDRELLA, SARAH LEVESQUE, TOM ZAYA PARENT: LAURIE HURLEY STUDENT: DREW ANDERSON SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS: BRIAN LEWIS, MATTHEW VATCHER 2

3 In , the Middlesex League Superintendents signed an agreement to adjust high school start times to later times due to the research on teens and sleep. A Late Start Working Group was formed in Reading in A team was re-formed this fall. Our mission change the schedule as many of our peer communities have or will be moving to later start times. Our goals revisit the research on teen sleep patterns. advise on how a later start time for Reading Memorial High School might impact our community. 3

4 Agenda for This Evening What does the research say? How much sleep do our teens really need? How much sleep are they getting? What are our proposed changes? What considerations and challenges should we plan for? 4

5 Why change our high school start time? Sleep research shows that teens have later and different sleep cycles. This is based on biology and circadian rhythms not just on lifestyle and technology choices. 5

6 Experts report that teens need 8.5 to 9.5 hours of Sleep American Pediatrics Association (2014) The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes insufficient sleep in adolescents as an important public health issue that significantly affects the health and safety, as well as the academic success...although a number of factors, including biological changes in sleep associated with puberty, lifestyle choices, and academic demands, negatively affect middle and high school students ability to obtain sufficient sleep, the evidence strongly implicates earlier school start times (ie, before 8:30 am) as a key modifiable contributor to insufficient sleep, as well as circadian rhythm disruption, in this population. 6

7 American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2017 ) During adolescence, internal circadian rhythms and biological sleep drive change to result in later sleep and wake times. As a result of these changes...high school start times curtail sleep, hamper a student's preparedness to learn, negatively impact physical and mental health, and impair driving safety. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence shows that delaying school start times positively impacts student achievement, health, and safety. Public awareness of the hazards of early school start times and the benefits of later start times are largely unappreciated. As a result, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine is calling on communities, school boards, and educational institutions to implement start times of 8:30 AM or later for middle schools and high schools to ensure that every student arrives at school healthy, awake, alert, and ready to learn. 7

8 Other Current Research Supporting Later Start Times Includes: American Medical Association 2016 American Psychological Association MIAA (Mass. Interscholastic Athletic Association) has issued a position paper on starting later. National Education Association National Sleep Foundation Society of Behavioral Medicine

9 What is the biology around teen sleep patterns? Biological Timing Systems are controlled in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) part of the brain. The SCN is our circadian (daily) pacemaker and controls our daily rhythms including sleepwake cycles, alert and performance rhythms as well as other controls such as temperature, hormones and metabolism. There is scientific evidence that teens' SCN follows a different and later to bed, later to rise cycle. 9

10 Teens' natural sleep patterns typically run from 11 pm 7 am. So going to bed earlier and limiting nighttime screen time (which limits melatonin production) helps but in the end, the natural sleep schedules of teens are different than adults who tend to feel drowsier earlier and get up earlier. 10

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14 OUR OWN READING TEENS REPORT NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP *INFO FROM YRBS SURVEYS-2015/17 14

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16 The Adverse Effects of Sleep Deprivation Research from CDC, American Academy Pediatrics Adverse Effects: Health~ Increased anxiety Increased depression and Increased vulnerability to stress Decreased motivation Increased obesity risks Other health related issues Adverse Effects: Safety~ Drowsy driving Impulse control Increased risk-taking behaviors 16

17 Adverse Effects: Performance Potential lower academic achievement Impairments in executive functioning and working memory Decreased creativity Attendance/tardiness Student athletes who do not get at least 8 hours of sleep are 2.3 times more at risk for sports related injuries 17

18 No. The circadian rhythms that regulate their sleep patterns give them an extra burst of energy in the evening hours. Many teens even if forced to go to bed earlier, find it hard to fall asleep before 11 pm. Melatonin remains in their system keeping them sleeping or sleepy until 8 am. Will they go to bed later if we change the times? No. Researchers have found that high school students will go to bed at roughly the same time as before a later start time and truly do get more sleep on average. 18

19 What have other schools found in changing start times? Wilton, CT changed their time in 2003 and have found that students reporting sleeping an extra hour. "Six years later, no one is even looking back... our students are happier, performing at high levels academically and our sports teams continue to be among the best in the state." (CT LWV, 2009 Statement) 19

20 Other Middlesex League districts have committed to making the change. Almost half of our league has already moved their start times. Burlington, Melrose, Stoneham, Watertown, Winchester The league will schedule sports events to support the new, later start/end times. This is already happening in many cases due to some schools already dismissing after 3:00 pm. Some of the other districts who have moved to later start times for high school students include: Acton-Boxborough, Ashland, Concord-Carlisle, Duxbury, Eastham, Hingham, Holyoke, Marblehead, Marlborough, Monomy, Needham, Nauset, Sharon, Weston with many others moving to change start times in the next year. 20

21 We Surveyed School Leaders in the Middlesex League (n=11) Those who have yet to make the change are working towards that goal Some reported less students who who were tardy and better overall attendance Some reported increased participation at breakfast Some reported opportunities for slower pace in morning including student support time at 8:00 a.m. rather than at 7:00 a.m. 21

22 Proposed Changes for RMHS (There are no changes being recommended for the middle schools or elementary schools at this time). Current RMHS start time is 7:30 am. Current RMHS end time is 2:11 pm. Proposed new RMHS start time is 8:30 am. Proposed new RMHS end time is 3:02 pm.* *After reviewing the high school schedule, we propose to have the same length for each period of the day with the exception of first period which will have 2 extra minutes for announcements, resulting in a slightly shorter day. 22

23 Considerations and Challenges with the moving to a later start time for staff: Assessing and supporting impact on staff and their families' schedules/commutes Impact on traffic Ability to lead clubs and student support 23

24 Reading High school staff were surveyed and shared concerns about their schedules/commutes with the change. (n=66) Some shared benefits such as students sleeping later and being less sleepy. Several also mentioned benefits such as last-minute lesson planning and feeling less rushed as a teacher. 24

25 Considerations to support staff include: Staff meetings may meet before school. Consideration for other movement of meetings to become before school offerings. Opportunities for student support times before school. Formation of scheduling committee to consider other changes of schedules during the day for the school year

26 Considerations and Challenges with the moving to a later start time for students, families and community members: Assessing and supporting impact on students and their families' schedules/commutes Impact on traffic Maintaining community access to shared fields especially lit fields Transportation Continuing to review impact on overall community and organizations 26

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28 What are community members saying are the benefits of starting later? (243 responses) 28

29 What are some of the concerns that were shared? (1509 responses and responders could respond to more than one) 29

30 What are some of the specific concerns that were shared? (117 responses) 30

31 Considerations to support change for students, families, and community members include: Library and Cafeteria (with breakfast) schedule to include morning time for students who prefer to come in earlier. Forming homework committee to discuss homework policy at RMHS. RMHS Leadership to work with coaches and advisors on scheduling and hard end times not just extending activities another hour. Opportunities for student support time before school. Formation of scheduling committee to consider other changes of schedules during the day for the school year Work with Reading SROs and Police Department on tracking traffic with suggestions as needed. Work with Recreation Dept./Facilities/Other outside agencies to help with field and building scheduling. 31

Winchester Public Schools. School Start Time Study Committee Community Forum November 28, 2017

Winchester Public Schools. School Start Time Study Committee Community Forum November 28, 2017 Winchester Public Schools School Start Time Study Committee Community Forum November 28, 2017 School Start Time Study Committee Members Students: Jackson Savage Elizabeth (Lizzie) Splaine Teacher/Administrator: