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) of Southeastern PA. Formed in March of 2016, the mission of RASNC is to raise awareness of the nationally identified public health issue of chronic adolescent sleep deprivation and promote optimum teen sleep health. A major area of our focus is supporting school districts as they explore adopting “healthy school hours" for all students as per the recommendations of multiple national medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association.
We provide resources, guidance, support and networking opportunities for school communities who wish to explore making change.
Our Coalition has had representation from over 35 School Districts across six PA counties, multiple Leagues of Women Voters (LWV), Intermediate Units, and other PA SSL Chapters. We have recently expanded to include interested stakeholders from New Jersey and Delaware. Participants include: School Board Members, School Administrators, Teachers, Students, Health Professionals, Parents, LWV Members and other concerned citizens.
We welcome you to join us
PA Legislation Update - Watch and Advocate
HB 1507 (Rep. Topper/Rep. Cooper) - proposed change to the PA School Code by replacing and with or as it relates to instructional hours. The current days would change from 180 days and either 900 or 990 hours of instructional time for elementary and secondary students, respectively to 180 days or either 900 or 990 hours of instructional time. This has significant benefits in terms of school schedule flexibility, especially when trying to reconfigure school start and end times. The bill has passed the House and has been sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Oct. 25, 2023.
HB 1848 (Rep Cooper, Briggs, Mihalek and Brennan) - proposed mandated secondary school start time for 8:15 AM or later as a result of strong lobbying efforts of sleep scientists and years of data. If passed, legislation would be effective in 2026-27. Hoping to pair this legislation along with another one that reduces the distance for mandated bussing from 10 miles beyond district boundaries to help make school start time changes easier. Referred to the Education Committee of the House on November 14. Related resources: PA Joint State Government Commission Report SLEEP DEPRIVATION IN ADOLESCENTS: THE CASE FOR DELAYING SECONDARY SCHOOL START TIMES (October 2019) - Full Report CLICK HERE & Summary CLICK HERE .
HB 312 (Rep. Diamond) – proposed amendment to the Act of April 13, 1887 that established uniform standard of time in PA to be permanent standard time and the elimination of daylight savings time in PA. Referred to the State Government Committee on March 10th. This standard of time enhances the benefits of later school start times by having biological clocks aligned all year long with natural circadian rhythms and reducing the duration of morning darkness.
House Resolution 29 (Rep. Webster) to conduct a comprehensive study on the viability, benefits and costs of consolidating bus routes on a county-wide basis. This was referred to the Education Committee on March 10, 2023.
HB 1848 (Rep Cooper, Briggs, Mihalek and Brennan) - proposed mandated secondary school start time for 8:15 AM or later as a result of strong lobbying efforts of sleep scientists and years of data. If passed, legislation would be effective in 2026-27. Hoping to pair this legislation along with another one that reduces the distance for mandated bussing from 10 miles beyond district boundaries to help make school start time changes easier. Referred to the Education Committee of the House on November 14. Related resources: PA Joint State Government Commission Report SLEEP DEPRIVATION IN ADOLESCENTS: THE CASE FOR DELAYING SECONDARY SCHOOL START TIMES (October 2019) - Full Report CLICK HERE & Summary CLICK HERE .
HB 312 (Rep. Diamond) – proposed amendment to the Act of April 13, 1887 that established uniform standard of time in PA to be permanent standard time and the elimination of daylight savings time in PA. Referred to the State Government Committee on March 10th. This standard of time enhances the benefits of later school start times by having biological clocks aligned all year long with natural circadian rhythms and reducing the duration of morning darkness.
House Resolution 29 (Rep. Webster) to conduct a comprehensive study on the viability, benefits and costs of consolidating bus routes on a county-wide basis. This was referred to the Education Committee on March 10, 2023.
Is a Move to Permanent Daylight Savings Time Good or Bad
for Public Safety and Health?
March 2022: US Senate passes the Sunshine Protection Act making Daylight Savings Time permanent.
Start School Later OPPOSES the Sunshine Protection Act
and SUPPORTS Permanent Standard Time instead.
and SUPPORTS Permanent Standard Time instead.
Start School Later and many medical organizations and public health experts concur, based on medical research,
that seasonal time changes are detrimental to public health and safety.
HOWEVER, the solution is NOT permanent daylight savings time.
that seasonal time changes are detrimental to public health and safety.
HOWEVER, the solution is NOT permanent daylight savings time.
“Daylight saving time increases our morning exposure to darkness and evening exposure to sunlight, the most powerful timing cue for the human body clock,” said Dr. Shannon Sullivan, chair of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Public Safety Committee and clinical professor of sleep medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. “The time change causes misalignment between the body’s daily rhythm and the clock, making it harder to fall asleep at night, disrupting sleep quality, and leading to sleep loss which can negatively impact health and safety. DST results in more darkness in the morning hours, and more light in the evening hours. Adopting permanent DST also would undo the benefits of delaying start times for middle schools and high schools.”
Start School Later opposes Permanent Daylight Savings Time and supports Permanent Standard Time.
Here are position statements and research from organizations such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and others that inform the Start School Later position:
- Ditching the daylight saving time change for better sleep, health and safety (AASM)
- Daylight saving time: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement (JCSM)
- Save Standard Time Home Page - CLICK HERE
- Save Standard Time YouTube Channel - CLICK HERE .
- End Daylight Saving Time and Restore Permanent Standard Time Nationwide (Resistbot)
- Daylight Saving is a Trap (The Atlantic)
- How daylight savings time poses a host of health concerns, according to a neurologist (PBS)
US Legislation: Standard Time vs Daylight Savings Time
- The U.S. tried permanent daylight savings time in the 1970's then quickly rejected it (NPR)
- House Leaders want to take up Daylight Savings Time Bill - Later (The Hill)
- In a blink of an eye, Senate passes time-change bill with no dissent (The Washington Post)
- Some Senators Want Permanent Daylight Saving Time (NPR)
- Some Senators Introduce a Bill to Make Daylight Savings Time Permanent (CNN)
PA Legislation: Standard Time vs Daylight Savings Time
Learn about these bills - Below are links to legislation.
Learn about these bills - Below are links to legislation.
- HB-335: Permanent DST – Oppose (already passed PA House, now in PA Senate Committee on State Government
- SR-36: Permanent DST – Oppose (approved by a senate committee sitting with the Senate President pro Tempore)
- SB-384: Permanent ST – Support (referred to committee but ignored)
- HB-846: Permanent Standard Time – Support (needs hearing in House Committee on State Government)
- HB 312 (Rep. Diamond) – proposed amendment to the Act of April 13, 1887 that established uniform standard of time in PA to be permanent standard time and the elimination of daylight savings time in PA. Referred to the State Government Committee on March 10th. This standard of time enhances the benefits of later school start times by having biological clocks aligned all year long with natural circadian rhythms and reducing the duration of morning darkness.
PA Legislation Bill Tracker
LegiScan state dashboard for Pennsylvania legislative tracking information, data, and overviews.
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
Let's Sleep Website and Tools
Let’s Sleep! is a joint initiative of Brigham & Women’s Hospital’s Division of Sleep & Circadian Disorders, led by Harvard Medical School’s sleep pioneer Dr. Charles Czeisler, and the nonprofit Healthy Hours, dedicated to promoting sleep health and raising public awareness about the relationship of sleep and developmentally appropriate school hours to physical, psychological, and educational well-being.
This resource provides practical advice for teens to sleep and live better and includes resources for:
Students - CLICK HERE
Teachers - CLICK HERE
Administrators - CLICK HERE
Parents - CLICK HERE
Webinars - (Archived & New) CLICK HERE
Students - CLICK HERE
Teachers - CLICK HERE
Administrators - CLICK HERE
Parents - CLICK HERE
Webinars - (Archived & New) CLICK HERE
Managing Adolescent Sleep in a Pandemic Culture
Survey: Reflections on Healthy School Start Times During Stay-At-Home Orders
The Regional Adolescent Sleep Needs Coalition created a brief survey to ascertain sleep patterns and school schedules during the Spring/Summer 2020 stay-at-home orders. The survey was completed by parents or guardians of students who were in grades 6-12 during the 2019/2020 school year. Click on the file below to download the summary of the survey findings.
The Regional Adolescent Sleep Needs Coalition created a brief survey to ascertain sleep patterns and school schedules during the Spring/Summer 2020 stay-at-home orders. The survey was completed by parents or guardians of students who were in grades 6-12 during the 2019/2020 school year. Click on the file below to download the summary of the survey findings.
| rasnc_2020_sleep_survey_results.pdf |
Presentation: Recommendations for Adolescent Sleep as Back-to-School Schedules Evolve
Adolescent Sleep During Covid-19: Getting Sleep Back on Track for School Dr. Jackie Kloss, Dr. Rochelle Zozula and Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard - MLTV-Main Line Network from August 2020 - Click Here
Find and download recommendations below:
Adolescent Sleep During Covid-19: Getting Sleep Back on Track for School Dr. Jackie Kloss, Dr. Rochelle Zozula and Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard - MLTV-Main Line Network from August 2020 - Click Here
Find and download recommendations below:
| managing_adolescent_sleep_recs__rasnc_7.25_final.pdf |
Research - The impact of COVID-19 related school shutdown on sleep in adolescents: a natural experiment
Atlantic Article - How Teens Handled Quarantine
Washington Post Article - Sleep-deprived kids have gotten a break with remote learning’s later start times.
PA School Start Times Study Resolution Report
Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents: The Case for Delaying Secondary School Start Times
The report is in response to Senate Resolution 417 of 2018 Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents: The Case for Delaying Secondary School Start Times. The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved the resolution and directed 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.
Adolescent Sleep Health Research Studies and Articles
FACT: Teens need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night to function best. Most teens do not get enough sleep — one study found that only 15% reported sleeping 8 1/2 hours on school nights. Biological sleep patterns shift toward later times for both sleeping and waking during adolescence -- meaning it is natural to not be able to fall asleep before 11:00 pm. (National Sleep Foundation - Teens and Sleep)
NOTE: Research featured has been used by school districts in Pennsylvania investigating sleep health and school start times
Click here to access research page
FACT: Teens need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night to function best. Most teens do not get enough sleep — one study found that only 15% reported sleeping 8 1/2 hours on school nights. Biological sleep patterns shift toward later times for both sleeping and waking during adolescence -- meaning it is natural to not be able to fall asleep before 11:00 pm. (National Sleep Foundation - Teens and Sleep)
NOTE: Research featured has been used by school districts in Pennsylvania investigating sleep health and school start times
Click here to access research page
Request a Speaker - Adolescent Behavioral Sleep Experts
For a list of behavioral sleep experts available to present and/or consult with area school districts on the science related to healthy sleep and school start times. CLICK HERE
For a list of behavioral sleep experts available to present and/or consult with area school districts on the science related to healthy sleep and school start times. CLICK HERE
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.
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 |
PA School Districts that Have
Changed School Hours
Changed School Hours
For a list of PA schools that have changed their hours, click here
Southeastern PA School Districts and Beyond
Investigating Changing School Hours
Many school districts that are part of the Southeastern PA Regional Adolescent Sleep Needs Coalition (RASNC) plus others throughout PA 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.
For a list of PA schools that are investigating changing their hours, click here
Time to Celebrate Lower Merion School District
After decades of study and parental and community input, in June 2023 the Lower Merion School District Board voted to change the bell schedule allowing students to start school later beginning September 2024. To read the details CLICK HERE
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.
Click here to access survey instrument page
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.
Click here to access survey instrument page
Bedtime Calculator & Healthy Hours
Medical organizations, like the American Academy of Pediatrics, “urges middle and high schools to aim for start times that allow students to receive 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep a night. In most cases, this will mean a school start time of 8:30 a.m. or later”.
Use the National Sleep Foundation Bedtime Calculator to find out what time to go to bed or wake up for your sleep health.
Click here to calculate “healthy hours”
Click here to calculate “healthy hours”
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 |
PA House Bill 1599 - Interscholastic Sports for Physical Education Requirement The bill will enable school boards to permit students to satisfy the physical education requirements by their participation in an interscholastic sport. This may be utilized twice per school year for seasonal interscholastic sports. Prime Bill Sponsor, Representative Chris Dush
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]
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.
Positive Impact of Starting School Later on Athletics
Sport Psychologist’s Perspective: Importance of Sleep for High-School Athletes
Mitchell Greene, Ph.D., Clinical and Sport Psychologist presented his clinical perspective at the September 2019 meeting of the Regional Adolescent Sleep Needs Coalition on the role that sleep health plays in the life of student athletes.
Click here to view the presentation slides.
Mitchell Greene, Ph.D., Clinical and Sport Psychologist presented his clinical perspective at the September 2019 meeting of the Regional Adolescent Sleep Needs Coalition on the role that sleep health plays in the life of student athletes.
Click here to view the presentation slides.
Pro Sports View on Sleep Needs Linked to Health & Performance
Article (NY TIMES) - To the N.F.L., 40 Winks is as Vital as the 40-Yard Dash
Article & Video (ESPN) - NBA exec: 'It's the dirty little secret that everybody knows about'
Article (NY TIMES) - To the N.F.L., 40 Winks is as Vital as the 40-Yard Dash
Article & Video (ESPN) - NBA exec: 'It's the dirty little secret that everybody knows about'
DREAM BIG - Sleep Like Champs - Game Plan
Sleep CHAMPS Game Plan
C Consistency - Get to bed and wake up at around the same time each day as often as you can.
H Hello Sunshine! Get out in the bright light early in the morning as that helps solidify sleep-wake periods in the brain.
A Avoid caffeine - Be careful of late day energy drinks or caffeine that may cause problems initiating sleep.
M Message me not! Ditch the electronics - the lights and messaging make it hard for your brain to slow down. Spend time recharging yourself, instead of recharging your overused phone!
P Practice and Training Scheduling - Try to time practice and workouts at a time that matches your natural biology – are you an early bird- or a night owl? I.e. Night owls will usually perform well in the evening workouts. Listen to your own body.
S Success comes to those who maximize the total 24 hour training period!
Sleep Well! Dream Big! By Brendan Duffy –Director, Catholic Health Sleep Services
C Consistency - Get to bed and wake up at around the same time each day as often as you can.
H Hello Sunshine! Get out in the bright light early in the morning as that helps solidify sleep-wake periods in the brain.
A Avoid caffeine - Be careful of late day energy drinks or caffeine that may cause problems initiating sleep.
M Message me not! Ditch the electronics - the lights and messaging make it hard for your brain to slow down. Spend time recharging yourself, instead of recharging your overused phone!
P Practice and Training Scheduling - Try to time practice and workouts at a time that matches your natural biology – are you an early bird- or a night owl? I.e. Night owls will usually perform well in the evening workouts. Listen to your own body.
S Success comes to those who maximize the total 24 hour training period!
Sleep Well! Dream Big! By Brendan Duffy –Director, Catholic Health Sleep Services
| sleep_like_champs_pdf.pdf |
A School District Perspective on School Start Times & 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
California Dreams Fulfilled for Teens
Governor Newsom signs SB328, the school start time bill.
Click here for SSL Press Release
Governor Newsom signs SB328, the school start time bill.
Click here for SSL Press Release
Seattle School District SSL Time is 8:45 a.m. Check out stories below to read and hear the positive impacts of this change