More Sleep for Teens Gets One Step Closer to Ringing the Bell SB 328- Late School Start Time Bill Passes the California State Senate

Tuesday, May 21 2019

Sacramento, California – Today, SB 328, authored by Senator Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) passed the California State Senate.  

SB 328 solves the significant public health crisis of sleep-deprived teens by requiring high schools in California to start no earlier than 8:30 AM. SB 328 is sponsored by the California State PTA and has garnered strong support from medical professionals, law enforcement, and education advocates. 

“Children across California deserve that we put a premium on their health.  Study after study has proven that the more teens sleep the healthier they are and the better they perform. Schools across the country that have implemented the recommendation of the researchers and moved their start time have seen their children thrive. California should lead by following the science and the overwhelming evidence.  The only thing preventing us from doing this is the fear of change and support for the status quo.  We must get over it and do the right thing,” commented Senator Portantino.

SB 328 principal co-authors include Assemblymember Ian Calderon (D-Long Beach) and Assemblymember Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) and co-authored by Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), and Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (D- Oceanside).

 “The research is clear. Later school start time improves the health, safety, and academic success of our teens. Thank you California Senate for supporting this science and voting for our kids,” stated Carol Kocivar California State PTA.

SB 328 is based on scientific research and began with the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control to shift the start time of middle schools and high schools to a later start time. The organization issued policy statement advising school districts to change the school day start time to no earlier than 8:30 am. School districts that have followed the recommendation and moved their start time later have seen increases in attendance, academic performance and graduation rates. While car accidents, frequency of suicidal thoughts, depression, drug use and sports injuries have all seen dramatic decreases after schools shift their start time to after 8:30 AM.   

 

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