Welcome to Start School Later
Southeastern PA (RASNC)!
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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: 17 School Districts, 4 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. School Start Times Resolution Approved
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. This resolution would require the Joint State Government Commission's advisory committee to consider the recent recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics on the establishment of later school start times and include an assessment of the health, academic and safety benefits associated with establishing later start times. The resolution was proposed by Senator Andrew Dinniman and brought to the Senate floor for a vote by Senator Jake Corman.
Snooze or Lose - Dr. Wendy Troxel
Hundreds of parents, educators and students in our region heard the important message about Healthy Hours from sleep researcher Dr. Wendy Troxel during events held on March 12 &13, 2018. Watch her TED Talk, Why School Should Start Later for Teens.
The events were sponsored by Coalition school districts of Radnor Township and Phoenixville Area. To learn more about the efforts of the Radnor Township School District visit the Adolescent Sleep and School Start Time Study Committee page and click on the Snooze or Lose event section to access videos and pictures plus click to watch the Phoenixville Area School District Snooze or Lose event video. |
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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.
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.
Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is another Coalition partner and the first district to successfully push back their school start time. To review their story visit the School Start Time Initiative web page. The site contains 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 |
Also see below the presentation that was shared with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) about the benefits of well rested student athletes.
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Student Sleep Survey Instrument Examples
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.
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.
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 |
Other PA School Districts Related to SSL
State College Area School District Approves Later School Start Times
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
At the April 18th, Erie School District Board meeting Superintendent, Brian J. Polito announced the new start times for Erie School District for the 2018-2019 school year.
In 2018-19, elementary school students will start at 8 a.m. and be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. Those students now attend school from 9:20 a.m. to 3:40 p.m., with free before-school programs running from 7:40 to 8:40 a.m.
‒ High school students will start at 8:40 a.m. and be dismissed at 3:30 p.m. Students at Erie High now attend school from 7:45 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. The school day for students at Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy now runs from 8:10 a.m. to 2:48 p.m.
‒ Middle school students will start at 8 a.m. and be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. The day for students at East Middle School now runs from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., and the day for students at Strong Vincent and Wilson middle schools now runs from 8 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. Click to read article.
At the April 18th, Erie School District Board meeting Superintendent, Brian J. Polito announced the new start times for Erie School District for the 2018-2019 school year.
In 2018-19, elementary school students will start at 8 a.m. and be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. Those students now attend school from 9:20 a.m. to 3:40 p.m., with free before-school programs running from 7:40 to 8:40 a.m.
‒ High school students will start at 8:40 a.m. and be dismissed at 3:30 p.m. Students at Erie High now attend school from 7:45 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. The school day for students at Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy now runs from 8:10 a.m. to 2:48 p.m.
‒ Middle school students will start at 8 a.m. and be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. The day for students at East Middle School now runs from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., and the day for students at Strong Vincent and Wilson middle schools now runs from 8 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. Click to read article.
Letter to Editor Main Line Times - Lower Merion School District Leaders are Sleeping; Students are Not. Click to read letter.
Some Information & Tools Related to SSL
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.
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 Loss Sleep Toolkit to answer the following questions:
- Why Improve Sleep for Teenage Students?
- What Schools Can Do?
- What Parents Can Do?