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by Terra Ziporyn, PhD For decades we’ve known that early school start times are fundamentally misaligned with adolescent biology. Teens aren’t choosing to be tired—their circadian rhythms shift naturally during puberty, making it nearly impossible for them to fall asleep early enough to function at a 7:00 a.m. bell. Yet most middle and high schoolers in this country are still expected to operate at hours that would be considered unsafe and unacceptable in almost any other setting. Starting school later isn’t about indulgence, convenience, or giving teenagers “what they want.” It’s about giving them what many major medical organizations say they need: enough sleep to support healthy brain development, emotion regulation, learning, and basic physical safety. Districts that have made the shift consistently see the same results: better attendance, higher graduation rates, improved mental health, fewer car crashes, less substance misuse, stronger classroom engagement, and calmer, more focused classrooms. The research is overwhelming, but what’s equally striking is how quickly communities adapt once the change is made. The fears—about sports, buses, childcare, after‑school jobs—rarely materialize the way people imagine. In fact, many of the predicted obstacles shrink or disappear once communities decide alighing schedules with biology rather than tradition is a top priority. The real barrier isn’t evidence. It’s inertia. We’ve normalized a system that asks teenagers to perform at their cognitive low point and then blames them when they struggle. We can do better — and the path forward is clear. I walk through the science, the lived experience, and the practical realities in the full piece: https://terraziporyn.substack.com/p/the-case-for-starting-school-later  Terra Ziporyn is Start School Later's Executive Director and Co-Founder
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