Later School Start Times in Action
The struggle to return schools to safer, healthier start times has been going on for years, but in hundreds of communities across the country, it's no longer a struggle—it's a reality. We've collected examples from districts in 46 states that have successfully shifted their schedules to prioritize student health and learning. With the right planning and community support, healthier school hours are achievable in every community, and the benefits are clear.
Here are just a few examples of success stories:
While there is no comprehensive list of EVERY success story (find out why HERE), Start School Later maintains a list of schools that have delayed their start times, as well as ongoing efforts to do so across the USA and the world, as we become aware of them.
If you have a success story to share or see any information is out-of-date, please let us know!
Here are just a few examples of success stories:
- All California public high schools now start at 8:30 a.m. or later, and all California public middle schools now start at 8:00 a.m. or later, thanks to statewide legislation setting guardrails on how early students can be required to attend class. Learn how they did it!
- As of January 2025, 44 Pennsylvania school districts and independent schools in 23 Pennsylvania counties have delayed their high school start times.
- At least 29 Massachusetts school districts have delayed secondary school bell times in recent years.
- Over 20 New York school districts have delayed bell times since we started counting in 2011.
- In New Mexico, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe have all successfully delayed start times based on adolescent sleep research.
- Both Fayette County and Jessamine County, Kentucky have maintained delayed high school start times for many years.
- Anne Arundel County, MD delayed its high schools to 8:30 a.m. starts and its middle schools to 9:15 a.m. starts in 2022. Since then, the district has reported numerous state athletic championships as well as improvements in both attendance and chronic truancy rates.
While there is no comprehensive list of EVERY success story (find out why HERE), Start School Later maintains a list of schools that have delayed their start times, as well as ongoing efforts to do so across the USA and the world, as we become aware of them.
If you have a success story to share or see any information is out-of-date, please let us know!
How They Did It: A Look at the Process
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So, how did all these districts manage to make the change? It's a common question, and the answer is that there's no single path to success. The districts that have been able to make this transition usually share certain practices, including sustained advocacy, efforts to engage and educate community stakeholders, iterative problem solving, experience-based implementation strategies--and, above all, helping decisionmakers realize that putting kids and research first is in their interest.
We've compiled case studies to give you a taste of how districts of various shapes and sizes did it, from the initial planning stages to final implementation. |
What Does "Success" Mean?At Start School Later, we don't consider any story a complete success if any student of any age is required to be in class before 8 a.m. or middle and high school students required to be in class before 8:30 a.m. However, we also consider progress to be a kind of success story. We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
That's why in addition to celebrating full "success stories," we also recognize districts moving in the right direction to the benefit of the larger community. And, of course, we encourage them to keep working and progressing until every child of every age goes to school at safe, healthy, equitable hours. |
Case Studies
These case studies, some independently published, some put together by the National Sleep Foundation in 2005, show ways that various school districts returned to later, more developmentally appropriate school hours. Profiles include information about the bell schedules before and after the change, a profile of each school district, specific challenges, and corresponding solutions, and, in some cases, descriptions of how changes were made and managed and what benefits were accomplished.
Voices of Success: Testimonials
Congratulations on your advocacy in California and Florida and the passage of state guidelines. This is an incredible accomplishment....We have all come a long ways since the first high school to start school later in 1996 in Edina, MN. — Ken Dragseth, PhD, Retired Superintendent who led the very first sleep-research-based decision to start school later in 1996. We've raised three boys. One didn't have the benefit of our switch to 8:30 start times. He suffered the most. The middle one split two years of each. Our last has only gone to school waking up in the light. The difference is profound and difficult to fully describe. His grades and school performance are much higher than his brothers. Also his athletics, mood, behavior, family dynamics, diet, socialization, health, time management, focus, and also much more improved. It's honestly been the single best improvement to my parenting experience having seen all three stages. It is beyond me why all districts don't listen to the medical and academic experts and switch to healthy start times. There is no price tag you can put on this long list of proven benefits." — Wheatleigh Dunham, Greenwich CT Weston would not have been able to make the change without the help of SSL [Start School Later]. We utilized many of the resources including their slides, flyers/brochures, and advice on engaging the school system and community. We received a lot of help, assistance, and support from many SSL members. So thank you." — Chun Lim, Chapter Leader, Start School Later Weston, MA I also want to thank you for all the assistance and guidance you have provided. The going has been hard, but having expertise, encouragement, and access to data made it possible for our local core to be much more effective than we would have been on our own." "Thank you! Your support was a huge part in our success!" |
Once upon a time, I started a Start School Later chapter in my community and now, here we are: "Thank you for all the support from Start School Later. Your resources were invaluable and your efforts lit the path." Thanks for all of your work! Organization and raising awareness in the community are key components to success. As others have noted, this is similar to raising awareness about other public health matters such as the dangers of second hand smoking, the importance of seat belts, car seats and many other issues. Change is a challenge. As chair of SLEEPinFairfax (Start Later for Excellence in Education) I applaud Start School Later!" "Happy to report that our school district voted unanimously against the condensed schedule which included earlier start times. I'd like to think that all the evidence from your website along with proof of so many states following [suit] helped sway them." "[Y]ou have been a tremendous resource to us. We've made more progress in a year than ever would have been possible had it not been for SSL and those who have fought before us!" |