Welcome to Start School Later Pennsylvania!
Pennsylvania is waking up!
- Pennsylvania has very active local chapters and many of our school districts have already or recently delayed their school start times.
- Please help yourself to the numerous resources you will find on our webpages and reach out to us if we can be of help in any way.
PA School Start Times Study Resolution Report
Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents: The Case for Delaying Secondary School Start Times
Click here to access full report and summary
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.
Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents: The Case for Delaying Secondary School Start Times
Click here to access full report and summary
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.
Click link below to access the WITF radio program Smart Talk for a discussion about the report
Starting school later – possible solution to kid’s sleep deprivation crisis?
Presenters: Gail Karafin, Ed.D., School Psychologist and PA Statewide leader of Start School Later,
Orfeu Buxton, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University and
Derry Township School District Superintendent Joe McFarland.
Starting school later – possible solution to kid’s sleep deprivation crisis?
Presenters: Gail Karafin, Ed.D., School Psychologist and PA Statewide leader of Start School Later,
Orfeu Buxton, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University and
Derry Township School District Superintendent Joe McFarland.
PA School Districts that Have
Changed School Hours
For a list of PA schools that have changed their hours, Click Here
Changed School Hours
For a list of PA schools that have changed their hours, Click Here
PA School Districts Investigating
Changing School Hours
For a list of PA schools that are investigating changing their hours, Click Here
School Start Time Workshop Draws Attendees from More Than 50 School Districts
With the growing awareness that sleep is critical to our health and well-being, and the medical community’s recommendation to delay school start times, the national Start School Later organization hosted two daylong workshops on the topic in southeastern PA, an area where there is strong interest and momentum among school districts and their communities to implement such changes. The November 13 workshop opened registration on August 17 and reached capacity in less than four weeks. Recognizing the level of interest, additional sponsors were secured to offer a second day on November 14.
“Adolescent Health and School Start Times: Science, Strategies, Tactics, and Logistics” drew more than 175 attendees, including superintendents, school administrators, parents, school board members, and health professionals representing over 50 school districts across 15 counties in Pennsylvania. Attendees from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York also participated.
“Change is possible,” noted Phyllis Payne, Implementation Director, Start School Later (SSL). “Our workshops highlight success stories from local school districts and bring participants together to learn from one another, and to share solutions to potential logistical challenges districts face when shifting bell times. Starting middle and high schools after 8:30 a.m. provides substantial health and safety benefits to our teen students and is a public health best practice recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and others.”
“Adolescent Health and School Start Times: Science, Strategies, Tactics, and Logistics” drew more than 175 attendees, including superintendents, school administrators, parents, school board members, and health professionals representing over 50 school districts across 15 counties in Pennsylvania. Attendees from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York also participated.
“Change is possible,” noted Phyllis Payne, Implementation Director, Start School Later (SSL). “Our workshops highlight success stories from local school districts and bring participants together to learn from one another, and to share solutions to potential logistical challenges districts face when shifting bell times. Starting middle and high schools after 8:30 a.m. provides substantial health and safety benefits to our teen students and is a public health best practice recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and others.”
Click below to download full workshop story
| workshop_press_release.pdf |
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 PA 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 PA research page
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 sleep 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 sleep survey instrument page
About our PA Chapters:
Along with a statewide chapter, Pennsylvania is home to nine local chapters and a student chapter:
Berks County
Bucks County
Chester County
(Unionville HS Student Chapter)
Delaware County
Lower Merion
Montgomery County
Southeastern PA (RASNC)
Phoenixville
Western Region (Pittsburgh area)
Berks County
Bucks County
Chester County
(Unionville HS Student Chapter)
Delaware County
Lower Merion
Montgomery County
Southeastern PA (RASNC)
Phoenixville
Western Region (Pittsburgh area)
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
SSL Pennsylvania! was founded by Gail Karafin, Ed.D., a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist in local practice in Doylestown and Bensalem for over 20 years.
Gail understands first-hand the impact of early school start times on the health of her current students and endured early school starts when her children were in high school. Because she understands that the problem of early school start times has continued for over a generation, she understands that a statewide education campaign is essential for communities and schools to address this health problem.
Gail understands first-hand the impact of early school start times on the health of her current students and endured early school starts when her children were in high school. Because she understands that the problem of early school start times has continued for over a generation, she understands that a statewide education campaign is essential for communities and schools to address this health problem.
Check out chapter leader Dr. Gail Karafin's 2-part article on TEEN SLEEP ISSUES AND SCHOOL START TIMES in THE PENNSYLVANIA PSYCHOLOGIST! PART 1. PART 2.