Pasadena Now: California State Senate Approves Portantino’s “School Start Time Bill,” Which Heads to the State Assembly

Friday, June 2 2017

Tuesday, Senator Anthony J. Portantino presented SB 328 on the floor of the California State Senate. The bill requires middle schools and high schools in California to start the school day no earlier than 8:30 a.m. SB 328 is based on recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control for the optimal time to start school for improved public health of teenage students.

SB 328 passed the State Senate and is moving on to the State Assembly. This is believed to be the first time a school start time bill of this nature has passed any legislative house in the country.

“Wow, my colleagues in the Senate are amazing! They have embraced this idea and the research behind it. I am very proud to see such an important public health bill moving to the State Assembly. The best interest of our children needs to come first and by passing this legislation, the State Senate sends a strong message that it believes in that mission. There are nearly 400 school districts around the country that have gone to a late start and each has seen tremendous health and academic benefits for their children after making the move,” Portantino said

Read Full Article Here