Welcome to Start School Later Biddeford/Saco, ME!
Maine's first case study!
Click to see Dr. Joan Pelletier's overview of the science that led the AAP, CDC, and dozens of medical organizations to recommend NO middle/high school start before 8:30AM
We are a coalition of Saco and Biddeford physicians, parents and educators advocating for healthier starting bells for our students. On April 30, 2016, we became the first schools in the state to comply with the 2014 American Academy of Pediatrics 8:30 AM recommended start time.
Prior to adopting healthy hours, our first bus pick up was 6:16 AM for 7:25 and 7:45 start times at Middle and High Schools. Our schools employ pediatricians of record who oversee nursing staff and advise our board on public health policies. Knowing that sleep deprivation is directly linked to obesity, diabetes and emotional and behavioral health issues--including anxiety, depression and addiction--our school physicians led the charge to push back the school day to positively impact physical and mental health, learning and performance, attendance, graduation rates and test scores.
Our team partnered with school officials to educate, advocate and implement a plan that included:
Prior to adopting healthy hours, our first bus pick up was 6:16 AM for 7:25 and 7:45 start times at Middle and High Schools. Our schools employ pediatricians of record who oversee nursing staff and advise our board on public health policies. Knowing that sleep deprivation is directly linked to obesity, diabetes and emotional and behavioral health issues--including anxiety, depression and addiction--our school physicians led the charge to push back the school day to positively impact physical and mental health, learning and performance, attendance, graduation rates and test scores.
Our team partnered with school officials to educate, advocate and implement a plan that included:
- Educating the public and staff about the impacts of sleep deprivation
- Surveying parents about child care needs and partnering with local Park & Rec departments to deliver a low cost partnership and alternatives for families (less than 8 percent of our population) who relied on older children to care for younger students after school
- Implemented a flipped busing solution that resulted in NO INCREASE to the school budget, NO elementary school starting before 8:00 AM and no child waiting for a bus before civil daylight
- Impacted less than 1 percent of high school athletic schedules and extracurricular activities
Results:
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Six months into our school year, early measurement benchmarks include:
"Sleep is a crucial cornerstone to the mental and physical health of our children and these early start times are a barrier to our children's ability to establish healthy sleep routines." Local NewsNine Hours of Sleep Can be a Game changer for our Teens. Saco physician Dr. Lucien Ouelette and 17 other sports medicine doctors say athletes will be the biggest winners in a later start time.
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