Welcome to Start School Later
Southeastern PA (RASNC)!
The SSL Southeastern PA Chapter represents the schools and communities that are part of the Regional Adolescent Sleep Needs Coalition (RASNC). The goal of our Chapter/Coalition is to promote "healthy school hours" for all students based on adolescent sleep research.
Our Coalition has representation from the Southeastern PA region and currently includes:
36 School Districts, Leagues of Women Voters, Intermediate Units, and other SSL Chapters. Member roles include: School Board Members, School Administrators, Teachers, Students, Health Professionals, Parents, and League Members.
Our Coalition has representation from the Southeastern PA region and currently includes:
36 School Districts, Leagues of Women Voters, Intermediate Units, and other SSL Chapters. Member roles include: School Board Members, School Administrators, Teachers, Students, Health Professionals, Parents, and League Members.
We welcome you to join us
PA School Start Times Study Resolution Approved
In October 2018, the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved a resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee to conduct a study of issues, benefits and options related to instituting a later start time to the school day in secondary schools. Click for the full text of the resolution
The Commission’s report is due to be completed and published no later than October 18, 2019. Stay tuned!
The Commission’s report is due to be completed and published no later than October 18, 2019. Stay tuned!
Sleep Research Multimedia Presentations
Over the past few years, our Coalition members, in partnership with various school districts and others, have invited nationally prominent sleep research experts into our region to educate school communities on adolescent sleep research and the importance of healthy school hours. Here are some of those multimedia presentations.
To view, click on presentation titles listed below:
February 2016 - Sleep and The Adolescent Brain Presentation - Radnor Township School District Presenters: Dr. Judith Owens, Director, Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston MA and Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard, Clinical Director of the Anxiety Behaviors Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
April 2017 - National Conference: Adolescent Sleep, Health, and School Start Times - Washington DC - Click to visit the Conference site and to view the Conference overview video. Conference presenters included internationally-recognized experts on various topics regarding adolescent sleep, Health, and school start times.
March 2018 - Snooze or Lose: The Public Epidemic of Teen Sleep Loss - Radnor Township School District and Phoenixville Area School District - Presenter: Dr. Wendy Troxel, Clinical Psychologist and Certified Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist. Watch her TED Talk, Why School Should Start Later for Teens.
February, 2019 - The Science of Sleep (Presentation/Video) - Radnor Township School District.
Presenter - Dr. Judith Owens from Boston’s Children Hospital and Harvard University
September 11, 2019 - Snooze or Lose: The Public Epidemic of Teen Sleep Loss - Wallingford-Swarthmore School District - Presenter: Dr. Wendy Troxel, Clinical Psychologist and Certified Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist.
September 12, 2019 - Snooze or Lose: The Public Epidemic of Teen Sleep Loss - West Chester Area School District - Presenter: Dr. Wendy Troxel, Clinical Psychologist and Certified Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist.
To view, click on presentation titles listed below:
February 2016 - Sleep and The Adolescent Brain Presentation - Radnor Township School District Presenters: Dr. Judith Owens, Director, Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston MA and Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard, Clinical Director of the Anxiety Behaviors Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
April 2017 - National Conference: Adolescent Sleep, Health, and School Start Times - Washington DC - Click to visit the Conference site and to view the Conference overview video. Conference presenters included internationally-recognized experts on various topics regarding adolescent sleep, Health, and school start times.
March 2018 - Snooze or Lose: The Public Epidemic of Teen Sleep Loss - Radnor Township School District and Phoenixville Area School District - Presenter: Dr. Wendy Troxel, Clinical Psychologist and Certified Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist. Watch her TED Talk, Why School Should Start Later for Teens.
February, 2019 - The Science of Sleep (Presentation/Video) - Radnor Township School District.
Presenter - Dr. Judith Owens from Boston’s Children Hospital and Harvard University
September 11, 2019 - Snooze or Lose: The Public Epidemic of Teen Sleep Loss - Wallingford-Swarthmore School District - Presenter: Dr. Wendy Troxel, Clinical Psychologist and Certified Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist.
September 12, 2019 - Snooze or Lose: The Public Epidemic of Teen Sleep Loss - West Chester Area School District - Presenter: Dr. Wendy Troxel, Clinical Psychologist and Certified Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist.
Research: Poor grades tied to class times that don’t match our biological clocks
Researches from UC Berkeley and Northeastern Illinois University tracked the personal daily online activity profiles of nearly 15,000 college students as they logged into campus servers and compared their class times to their academic outcomes. Their findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, show that students whose circadian rhythms were out of sync with their class schedules and received lower grades due to “social jet lag,” a condition in which peak alertness times are at odds with work, school or other demands.
Researches also found that learning deficits, social jet lag has been tied to obesity and excessive alcohol and tobacco use.
Study co-lead author Aaron Schirmer, an associate professor of biology at Northeastern Illinois University states, “Our research indicates that if a student can structure a consistent schedule in which class days resemble non-class days, they are more likely to achieve academic success". Click to read full article.
More Research Studies & Articles in Topic Groups
The Regional Adolescent Sleep Needs Collation (RASNC) collects links to research studies and articles related to sleep and on starting school later. This collection is captured in a Google doc and grouped in topic areas which includes general sleep research, sleep & academic performance, sleep & health, sleep & economics, sleep & athletics, sleep & driving. Click on the file below to download and access the information.
Researches from UC Berkeley and Northeastern Illinois University tracked the personal daily online activity profiles of nearly 15,000 college students as they logged into campus servers and compared their class times to their academic outcomes. Their findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, show that students whose circadian rhythms were out of sync with their class schedules and received lower grades due to “social jet lag,” a condition in which peak alertness times are at odds with work, school or other demands.
Researches also found that learning deficits, social jet lag has been tied to obesity and excessive alcohol and tobacco use.
Study co-lead author Aaron Schirmer, an associate professor of biology at Northeastern Illinois University states, “Our research indicates that if a student can structure a consistent schedule in which class days resemble non-class days, they are more likely to achieve academic success". Click to read full article.
More Research Studies & Articles in Topic Groups
The Regional Adolescent Sleep Needs Collation (RASNC) collects links to research studies and articles related to sleep and on starting school later. This collection is captured in a Google doc and grouped in topic areas which includes general sleep research, sleep & academic performance, sleep & health, sleep & economics, sleep & athletics, sleep & driving. Click on the file below to download and access the information.
| __sleep_articles_studies_-_adolescent_sleep_health.pdf |
Southeastern PA School Districts and Beyond that are
Investigating Changing their Hours
Many school districts that are part of the Southeastern PA Regional Adolescent Sleep Needs Coalition (RASNC) have officially initiated school start time studies and have posted information on their websites. We will continue to add to this list as other district webpages are created.
- Centennial SD - Secondary School Start Time Committee (Bucks County)
- Central Bucks SD - Rethinking School Start Times & Infographic (Bucks County)
- Derry Township SD - District To Revamp School Start Times in 2021-2022 (Dauphin County)
- East Penn SD - Article - East Penn Agrees to Study Later Start Times (Lehigh County)
- Lower Merion SD - Sleep and School Start Times (Montgomery County)
- Owen J Roberts SD - Sleep Health (Chester County)
- Springfield Township SD - Community and district investigation of Later school start times will be a priority district goal in the 2019-2020 school year.
- Upper Dublin SD - Multimedia - Adolescent Sleepiness Discussion & Adolescent Sleepiness Data Review (Montgomery County)
- Wallingford Swarthmore SD - Sleep and School Start Times (Delaware County)
- West Chester Area SD - School Start Times Task Force (May 2019) Letter from the Superintendent (April 2019) Article - West Chester Considering Delayed Start Times for Middle, High Schools (April 10, 2019) (Chester County)
Southeastern PA School Districts that Have
Changed School Hours
Changed School Hours
Phoenixville Area School District will Start School Later
The Phoenixville Area School Board voted 6 to 3 at their January 2019 meeting to adopt a “push” model for later school start times beginning in the 2019-20 school year! The vote in favor to adopt Option 3 - Push Start Time of their sleep study will allow school start times to be pushed back to a later start with the high school and middle school starting at 8:05 a.m. and elementary schools at 9:05 a.m. Click here for a link to the school district Sleep/School Start Time page. Also linked is a news story Phoenixville School Board votes to push back school start times. NOTE: Phoenixville Area School District is a Coalition member and the second to make the change to starting school later.
The Phoenixville Area School Board voted 6 to 3 at their January 2019 meeting to adopt a “push” model for later school start times beginning in the 2019-20 school year! The vote in favor to adopt Option 3 - Push Start Time of their sleep study will allow school start times to be pushed back to a later start with the high school and middle school starting at 8:05 a.m. and elementary schools at 9:05 a.m. Click here for a link to the school district Sleep/School Start Time page. Also linked is a news story Phoenixville School Board votes to push back school start times. NOTE: Phoenixville Area School District is a Coalition member and the second to make the change to starting school later.
Radnor Twp School Board Approves School Start Times 2019-2020 School Year
In line with the recommendations of major medical organizations and following the results of a comprehensive multi-year study of student sleep and school start time in Radnor Township School District, the RTSD School Board voted April 23 to approve a change to the schedules at all five RTSD schools, establishing a new 8:30 a.m. start time at Radnor High School and ensuring the greatest number of Radnor students benefit from the scientifically proven health advantages of increased sleep. Sleep & School Start Time Page
As approved by the Board, the new schedule for RTSD schools beginning the 2019-20 school year is:
Radnor High School: 8:30 a.m. to 3:04 p.m. (currently 7:35 a.m.-2:27 p.m.)
Radnor Middle School: 7:50 a.m.-2:40 p.m. (currently 8 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Ithan, Radnor, Wayne Elementary schools: 9:07 a.m.-3:40 p.m. (currently 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.)
Article: Philadelphia Inquirer Two more districts hit the snooze button on school start times
News Clip: Channel 6 Action News and News Clip: Channel 10 and News Clip: Channel 3
In line with the recommendations of major medical organizations and following the results of a comprehensive multi-year study of student sleep and school start time in Radnor Township School District, the RTSD School Board voted April 23 to approve a change to the schedules at all five RTSD schools, establishing a new 8:30 a.m. start time at Radnor High School and ensuring the greatest number of Radnor students benefit from the scientifically proven health advantages of increased sleep. Sleep & School Start Time Page
As approved by the Board, the new schedule for RTSD schools beginning the 2019-20 school year is:
Radnor High School: 8:30 a.m. to 3:04 p.m. (currently 7:35 a.m.-2:27 p.m.)
Radnor Middle School: 7:50 a.m.-2:40 p.m. (currently 8 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Ithan, Radnor, Wayne Elementary schools: 9:07 a.m.-3:40 p.m. (currently 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.)
Article: Philadelphia Inquirer Two more districts hit the snooze button on school start times
News Clip: Channel 6 Action News and News Clip: Channel 10 and News Clip: Channel 3
Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board Approves New School Start Times 2019-2020
At its regular meeting on April 22, 2019, the Tredyffrin/Easttown (T/E) School Board approved new school start times for the 2019-2020 school year. TESD School Start Times Initiative
New school start and end times for the 2019-2020 school year:
High School: 7:50 AM - 2:50 PM (currently 7:20 AM – 2:20 PM)
Middle Schools: 8:27 AM - 3:10 PM (currently 7:50 AM - 2:33 PM)
Elementary Schools: 9:10 AM - 3:45 PM (currently 8:45 AM - 3:20 PM)
Article: Philadelphia Inquirer Two more districts hit the snooze button on school start times
At its regular meeting on April 22, 2019, the Tredyffrin/Easttown (T/E) School Board approved new school start times for the 2019-2020 school year. TESD School Start Times Initiative
New school start and end times for the 2019-2020 school year:
High School: 7:50 AM - 2:50 PM (currently 7:20 AM – 2:20 PM)
Middle Schools: 8:27 AM - 3:10 PM (currently 7:50 AM - 2:33 PM)
Elementary Schools: 9:10 AM - 3:45 PM (currently 8:45 AM - 3:20 PM)
Article: Philadelphia Inquirer Two more districts hit the snooze button on school start times
Unionville-Chadds Ford School District Leader in Starting School Later
The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District was the first district in our coalition to successfully push back their school start time for the 2017-18 school year and moved both Patton Middle School and Unionville High School from a 7:35 a.m. start to 8 a.m. start. They hope to push both to 8:30 a.m. starts as soon as they can..To review their story visit the School Start Time Initiative web page. Click to view a video featuring students who helped drive the initiative.
Leadership Study: How a school community changed school start times The Story of the Unionville-Chadds Ford SD Experience, PSBA Leadership Conference October 17, 2018 - Click below to download the file and view the presentation.
The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District was the first district in our coalition to successfully push back their school start time for the 2017-18 school year and moved both Patton Middle School and Unionville High School from a 7:35 a.m. start to 8 a.m. start. They hope to push both to 8:30 a.m. starts as soon as they can..To review their story visit the School Start Time Initiative web page. Click to view a video featuring students who helped drive the initiative.
Leadership Study: How a school community changed school start times The Story of the Unionville-Chadds Ford SD Experience, PSBA Leadership Conference October 17, 2018 - Click below to download the file and view the presentation.
| leadership_study__how_a_school_community_changed_school_start_times.pdf |
Other PA School Districts that Have
Changed School Hours
Changed School Hours
Blue Ridge School District Made Change for Student Health & Academics
In the fall of 2013 the Blue Ridge School District delayed their school hours to address adolescent sleep and improve academic performance. Current hours are: Middle and High School 8:07 a.m. with dismissal at 3:00 p.m. and Elementary School 8:15 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. . Click here for Blue Ridge School District Homepage, New Milford, PA.
In the fall of 2013 the Blue Ridge School District delayed their school hours to address adolescent sleep and improve academic performance. Current hours are: Middle and High School 8:07 a.m. with dismissal at 3:00 p.m. and Elementary School 8:15 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. . Click here for Blue Ridge School District Homepage, New Milford, PA.
State College Area School District Makes Strategic Changes
Starting with the 2018-19 school year, the elementary start time moves from 8:44 to 8:10 a.m., and the day will end at 3 p.m. instead of 2:50 p.m. Middle and high school students will start at 8:40 a.m. instead of 8:10 a.m., and their days will end at 3:42 p.m. and 3:40 p.m., instead of 3:12 p.m. and 3:16 p.m., respectively.
Click for more information on SCASD website.
Starting with the 2018-19 school year, the elementary start time moves from 8:44 to 8:10 a.m., and the day will end at 3 p.m. instead of 2:50 p.m. Middle and high school students will start at 8:40 a.m. instead of 8:10 a.m., and their days will end at 3:42 p.m. and 3:40 p.m., instead of 3:12 p.m. and 3:16 p.m., respectively.
Click for more information on SCASD website.
Erie School District Sets New Start Times
School start times for the Erie School District for Erie School District for the 2018-2019 school year are:
School start times for the Erie School District for Erie School District for the 2018-2019 school year are:
- Elementary school students will start at 8 a.m. and be dismissed at 2:30 p.m.
- High school students will start at 8:40 a.m. and be dismissed at 3:30 p.m.
- Middle school students will start at 8 a.m. and be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. Click to read article.
Seneca Valley School District Start Times Pushed Back
Beginning in school year 2018-19 secondary students in grades 7th-12th will start school 35 minutes later than in prior years, at 8:09 a.m., and get out 11 minutes later at the end of the day at 2:41 p.m. Elementary students in kindergarten through 6th grade will start and end school 15 minutes later, beginning at 8:55 a.m. and ending at 3:25 p.m. The district started looking at pushing back start times early in 2018 in an effort to fight sleep deprivation in teens. Changes can be attributed to a strategic leadership plan by the superintendent. Click to review the school district Sleep & Adolescent page.
Beginning in school year 2018-19 secondary students in grades 7th-12th will start school 35 minutes later than in prior years, at 8:09 a.m., and get out 11 minutes later at the end of the day at 2:41 p.m. Elementary students in kindergarten through 6th grade will start and end school 15 minutes later, beginning at 8:55 a.m. and ending at 3:25 p.m. The district started looking at pushing back start times early in 2018 in an effort to fight sleep deprivation in teens. Changes can be attributed to a strategic leadership plan by the superintendent. Click to review the school district Sleep & Adolescent page.
Quaker Valley School District Experiments with Later School Start Times
In 2017-2018, Quaker Valley School District moved their start time back for students in grades 6-12. The district conducted surveys concerning later start times for their adolescent which showed great support in the community to make the change. School now begins at 8 a.m. instead of 7:45 a.m. with dismissal at 3:00 p.m. Click here for news story/video.
In 2017-2018, Quaker Valley School District moved their start time back for students in grades 6-12. The district conducted surveys concerning later start times for their adolescent which showed great support in the community to make the change. School now begins at 8 a.m. instead of 7:45 a.m. with dismissal at 3:00 p.m. Click here for news story/video.
Lake-Lehman School District Changes Junior/Senior High School Start Times
To address student sleep deprivation, district leaders changed start times in the 2018-19 school year, bumping the junior-senior high start time from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. The elementary schools start at 8:55 a.m., nearly an hour later than in past years. Click here for News/Video
To address student sleep deprivation, district leaders changed start times in the 2018-19 school year, bumping the junior-senior high start time from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. The elementary schools start at 8:55 a.m., nearly an hour later than in past years. Click here for News/Video
Burrell School District Pushes Back High School Start Time
In the 2018-2019 school year, the Burrell High School delayed its start to 8:10 a.m., 25 minutes later than the previous 7:45 at the superintendent’s request. There was no change to schedules at other schools. Click here for news article.
In the 2018-2019 school year, the Burrell High School delayed its start to 8:10 a.m., 25 minutes later than the previous 7:45 at the superintendent’s request. There was no change to schedules at other schools. Click here for news article.
Mechanicsburg Area School District Tweaks School Start Times
It was reported that for 2018-19 school year the Mechanicsburg Area School District changed their school day times to: High school begins at 8:20 a.m. with a 3:20 p.m. dismissal; Middle school begins at 8:30 a.m. with a 3:30 p.m. dismissal; Elementary grades begin at 7:40 a.m. with a 2:30 p.m. dismissal; Kindergarten begins at 7:55 a.m. with a 2:15 p.m. dismissal. Click here for article
It was reported that for 2018-19 school year the Mechanicsburg Area School District changed their school day times to: High school begins at 8:20 a.m. with a 3:20 p.m. dismissal; Middle school begins at 8:30 a.m. with a 3:30 p.m. dismissal; Elementary grades begin at 7:40 a.m. with a 2:30 p.m. dismissal; Kindergarten begins at 7:55 a.m. with a 2:15 p.m. dismissal. Click here for article
Student Sleep Survey Instrument Examples
Sleep researchers advise school districts to seriously consider administering a validated student sleep survey to their adolescent students for two important reasons. One is to get a research documented assessment of the true state of sleep among their students. The second is to use that resulting data as a baseline measure against which to measure the effectiveness of any sleep interventions the school district initiates. Below are some of the validated survey instruments that school districts can use.
National Institute of Health - The Cleveland Adolescent Sleepiness Questionnaire
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine link study results The Cleveland Adolescent Sleepiness Questionnaire: A New Measure to Assess Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Adolescents. The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District based their student sleep health survey on the Cleveland Adolescent Sleepiness Questionnaire. Link to the Questionnaire doc.
The attached file lists the questions and format used in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District - see below
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine link study results The Cleveland Adolescent Sleepiness Questionnaire: A New Measure to Assess Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Adolescents. The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District based their student sleep health survey on the Cleveland Adolescent Sleepiness Questionnaire. Link to the Questionnaire doc.
The attached file lists the questions and format used in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District - see below
| adolescent_sleepiness_questionnaire_-_ucfsd.pdf |
School Sleep Habits Survey - School Sleep Habits Survey Link
Developed in 1994 by the Bradley Hospital/Brown University Sleep Research Lab, the School Sleep Habits Survey was administered to over 3,000 high school students in Rhode Island. Results using this instrument are reported in Wolfson R & Carskadon MA (1998). Sleep schedules and daytime functioning in adolescents. Child Development, 69, 875-887.
Developed in 1994 by the Bradley Hospital/Brown University Sleep Research Lab, the School Sleep Habits Survey was administered to over 3,000 high school students in Rhode Island. Results using this instrument are reported in Wolfson R & Carskadon MA (1998). Sleep schedules and daytime functioning in adolescents. Child Development, 69, 875-887.
Student Sleep Survey Questions Recommendations from Dr. Wendy Troxel
Attached is a file listing a set of 5 validated sleep items recommended by Dr. Wendy Troxel, Sleep Researcher for use in administering a student “sleep needs assessment”. The Radnor Township School District used these questions in an expanded student sleep survey instrument. Link to the Radnor Township School District Teen Sleep Habits Survey .
Attached is a file listing a set of 5 validated sleep items recommended by Dr. Wendy Troxel, Sleep Researcher for use in administering a student “sleep needs assessment”. The Radnor Township School District used these questions in an expanded student sleep survey instrument. Link to the Radnor Township School District Teen Sleep Habits Survey .
| student_sleep_survey_questions_recommendations_from_dr.pdf |
PA/US Legislation to Watch
PA Senate Bill 591 - Amending the Pupil Transportation Distance Requirements in the School Code Legislation to amend the Public School Code to reduce the ten-mile requirement for transporting students outside a school district. The Prime Bill Sponsor, Senator Lisa Boscola has inserted a five-mile requirement for schools to provide free transportation to pupils. Currently other sponsors include Senator Brewster and Senator Tartaglione.
Click on the file below to download information concerning bussing/transportation issues related to Later School Start Times and Pennsylvania School Code. Information is from School Bus Consultants and was presented to the Joint State Government Commission HR 417 Advisory Committee studying secondary school start times.
Click on the file below to download information concerning bussing/transportation issues related to Later School Start Times and Pennsylvania School Code. Information is from School Bus Consultants and was presented to the Joint State Government Commission HR 417 Advisory Committee studying secondary school start times.
| pa_schools_start_later-transportation_impacts-4819.pptx |
US legislation (H.R. 1861) ZZZ’s to A’s Act - Legislation to direct the US Secretary of Education to conduct a study to determine the relationship between school start times and adolescent health, well-being, and performance. Introduced in the US House March 25, 2019 and referred to House Committee on Education and Labor. Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]
Positive Impact of Starting School Later on Athletics
Below is a presentation to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) about the benefits of well rested student athletes Presenters: Athletic Directors Unionville-Chadds Ford School District.
National SSL News
Seattle School District SSL Time is 8:45 a.m. Check out stories below to read and hear the positive impacts of this change
Some Information & Tools Related to SSL
National Start School Later Resource Articles/Studies - Click to access resources
Use this site to find information on adolescent sleep patterns, sleep loss, and the consequences of early high school start times. If an article is available for free, the link is provided. For articles not available for free due to copyright restrictions, the abstract is provided.
Discover Important Information about Student Health and Academics @ -
Impact of School Start Times on Adolescent Health and Academic Performance
Impact of School Start Times on Adolescent Health and Academic Performance
Review the Minnesota Sleep Society Teen Sleep Loss Toolkit to answer the following questions:
- Why Improve Sleep for Teenage Students?
- What Schools Can Do?
- What Parents Can Do?