Addressing Adolescent Sleep Needs through Later High-School Start Times Policy Development

Issue: There is growing evidence about the negative impact of chronic insufficient sleep among adolescents. However, the debate on benefits of later high-school start times and resulting fiscal and logistical burden on school systems continues. Research on the sleep needs of adolescents suggests various biological and psychosocial changes during this developmental period, including a change in the circadian rhythm which results in a 2-hour delay in the sleep-wake cycle. Most school districts' school start time policies and practices do not allow high school students to get sufficient sleep. Description: There is evidence that delaying high school start time can achieve positive education and health outcomes. School districts that have delayed start times have reported improvement in students' grades, attendance, concentration levels, and a decrease in students' tiredness. Experts are attempting to bridge the gap between the existing evidence on adolescent sleep needs and its translation into effective later high-school start time policies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is convening an expert work-group to discuss the impact of early high-school start times on adolescent health, implications for schools and communities, and suggestions for strengthening policies and practices. Lessons Learned: Lessons learned resulting from the expert workgroup will be discussed. Recommendations: Based on expert work-group's suggestions, CDC will develop a strategic action plan for promoting practical strategies to improve adolescent sleep time through high-school start time policy change by engaging key partners and coalitions, and building collaborations. Findings from the expert work-group will be discussed in the presentation.