Welcome to Start School Later Pennsylvania!
Pennsylvania schools are making a difference for their students
- Pennsylvania has local SSL chapters that have successfully advocated for and supported transitions to healthy school hours. Approximately 43 of our school districts and independent schools have already delayed their secondary school start times creating a wealth of experience on which others can draw. But much more work is still to be done. Pennsylvania has 500 school districts and hundreds of private, parochial and charter schools.
- Please help yourself to the numerous resources and research you will find on our webpages. Please reach out to us if we can be of help in any way. New SSL Local Chapters are also able to be formed.
Start School Later in the News
- Time Magazine: It’s Time to Do Away With Early School Start Times (January 2025)
- Substack: Why I Support Legislation to Start School Later (January 2025)
Legislation that Supports Healthy School Hours
Watch & Advocate
Recently Passed PA Legislation
PA Governor Josh Shapiro signed bill HB 1507 into law in December 2023 is now known as PA 2023 Act 56 which changes 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.
Recent PA Legislation and Legislative Action
PA Education Committee Hearing on Later School Start Times. On April 4, 2024, PA Senate Education Committee Chairman David Argall presided over a hearing to better understand the later secondary school start times movement. RASNC Co-founder and Co-Chair Amy Goldman was asked to provide testimony, as were sleep medicine experts Drs. Indira Gurubhagavatula and Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse. The aforementioned physicians have successfully lobbied for the introduction of House Bill 1848, listed below, and are trying to get the Senate to take up that bill or write a companion piece of legislation. Hearing Recording CLICK HERE . Wissahickon School Board Resolution CLICK HERE .
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.
PA Senate Bill 454 - reported out of the Senate Education Committee in March 2024. An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for physical education. Prime Sponsor: Senator DUSH
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.
PA Senate Bill 454 - reported out of the Senate Education Committee in March 2024. An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for physical education. Prime Sponsor: Senator DUSH
Previous PA/US Legislation
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. Download File
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]
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. Download File
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]
PA Legislation Bill Tracker
LegiScan state dashboard for Pennsylvania legislative tracking information, data, and overviews.
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
Recent Sleep Information
Adolescents: Go To Bed Earlier, Sleep Longer? - Research American Academy of Pediatrics - CLICK HERE
Teens are Still Starting High-School Too Early in the Morning - VigourTimes - CLICK HERE
In the News Upper Darby School District - Upper Darby, PA
To Improve kids' mental health some schools start later - Article and Video - 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
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
To get Let's Sleep news and updates - CLICK HERE
Health Smart Video: Study claims that later school start times benefit parents as well as children (Click below to watch video)
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.
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.
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
2019 PA 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 four local chapters and a statewide chapter:
Bucks County
Lower Merion
Montgomery County
Southeastern PA (RASNC)
Bucks County
Lower Merion
Montgomery County
Southeastern PA (RASNC)
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. To contact Dr. Gail Karafin, SSL PA Chapter Leader CLICK HERE .
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.