SLEEP in

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• SLEEP in
• Fairfax

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History of Later Start Times in Fairfax

• 1998 School Board Task Force concluded later
  secondary school start times would
  
• Improve academic performance.
• Reduce unsupervised after-school time for teens,
  lessening dangerous and criminal behavior
  
• Decrease teen car crashes due to lack of sleep
• Improve moods and relationships

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1998 Task Force (contd)

• Sleep deprivation is having a negative impact on
  learning in Fairfax County.
  
• Later high school and middle school bell times .
  . . can produce results of benefit to the entire
  community. 
  
• No consensus was yet reached on how to adjust
  bell schedules.

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• How do later start times help?

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Teens experience a biological shift to a later
sleep-wake cycle

• The biological clock of children shifts during
  adolescence, because of the timing of Melatonin
  secretion.
  
• 11 pm Teens generally ready to fall asleep
• 8 am Teens generally ready to wake up
• This delayed phase syndrome conflicts with
  early school start times.
  

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Teens are chronically sleep-deprived

• Teens need 9 ¼ hours of sleep.
• Only 15 get enough sleep.

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Consequences of Sleep-Deprivation

• Sleep-deprived people are
• Cranky and irritable.
• Impulsive, hyperactive, depressed and possibly
  violent.
  
• More likely to abuse alcohol and drugs.
• At risk for accidents and injuries.
• Sleep debt can impair metabolism and disrupt
  hormone levels. Sleep debt can contribute to
  obesity.
  
• Overall, daytime sleepiness reduces enjoyment and
  quality of life.

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With Later Start Times

• Students Sleep More
• Wilton, Connecticut
• School started 40 minutes later
• Students sleep 35 minutes more each school night
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Student sleep gain 1 hour/night

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Sleep-Friendly Schools

• Many schools across the country have established
  later start times
  
• Several studies available showing positive
  outcomes at sleep-friendly schools.
  

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Start Times at Nearby School Districts

• Alexandria HS 815 am
• MS 840-915
• Loudoun HS 900 am
• MS 820-830 am
• Arlington HS 819am
• Falls Church HS 8 am

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Benefits of Later Start Times

• Health
• Scholastic
• Sports and Extracurricular
• Community and Social

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Health Benefits of Later Start Times

• Data proves decrease in
• Car accidents
• Clinic visits
• Appointments with counselors
• Depression and need for medication
• Days absent
• Daytime sleepiness
• Increase in
• Participation in sports and extracurricular
  activities

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Scholastic Benefits of Later Start Times

• Improved learning
• Improved student behavior
• Students more alert in class
• Decreased drop out rate (Minnesota studies)
• Pediatrics (June 2005)
• Teen students performed better in the afternoon.
• Sleeping late is part of in-born cycle
• Bright light exposure did NOT modify the
  sleep-wake cycle or improve weekday performance.
  
• Improved performance on standardized tests (Navy
  study)

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March 2008 Sleep and Learning Conference

• Neurologists and sleep experts from around the
  world agreed
  
• Adequate sleep helps you learn, retain and fully
  understand new material.
  
• Changes in sleep and circadian rhythm in
  adolescence are inconsistent with optimal
  learning when morning school start times are too
  early (before 830 -9am).

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Sports and ExtracurricularBenefits of Later
Start Times

• Participation increases or stays the samemore
  students join teams and school clubs with later
  start times.
  
• Improved attitudes
• Improved performance

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Is there time for sports?

• Other schools with later end times find the time
  and succeed
  
• TJ, Loudoun and Arlington
• Game timesmany could stay as is
• Practice times
• Same (some start late w/current schedule)
• Move teacher-student flex time into the school
  day/week e.g., Marshall or TJ
  
• Shift and adjust practices to maintain time for
  community use.
  
• Surveys show parents want two hour limitscoaches
  say wont work for all sports
  

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Other Benefits of Later Start Times

• Parents report more connect time with teens
• Teen schedules more closely match parent work
  schedules
  
• Improved attitude and behavior
• One year later, 92 percent of Minnesota parents
  are happy with change

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• 538

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Focal Issue SCHOOL START TIMES

• FCPS high school and middle school start times
  interrupt the teen sleep cycle.

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• Teen Sleep Clock
• 11 PM to 8 AM

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Transportation Task Force 2008

• Transportation system in crisis.
• The School Board believes that later start times
  benefit teens.
  
• Task Force asked to define acceptable bell
  schedule and transportation guidelines
  

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Transportation Task Force 2008 Recommended Bells

• Start Times
• Elementary
• Current 750-925
• Most 750 - 855
• Some 900 - 940
• High
• Current 715-730
• Proposed 835 - 855
• Middle
• Proposed 920 - 940

• End Times
• 230 - 400
• 230 - 345
• 340 - 420
• 200-215
• 315 - 345
• 4 - 430

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Cost Comparisons

• Transportation Consultant models
• Zero cost to 9.2 million
• Task Force
• Reengineering will improve efficiency and save
  money.
  
• Other school systems have switched
• with no new buses

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Support for Later Times

• More than 8,000 petition signers
• Surveys (students, parents, teachers)
• FCCPTA
• Virginia State PTA
• FCPS Student Advisory Council
• School Health Advisory Comm.
• National Sleep Foundation
• Medical Society of Northern Virginia
• League of Women Voters Fairfax

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www.SLEEPinFAIRFAX.org

• Facts in English and Spanish
• Link to research
• Find answers to FAQ
• Review survey data
• Download materials for volunteers from the How
  To Help page
  
• Read anecdotes from parents and students
• Sign the online petition

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How You Can Help

• Visit our website
• www.SLEEPinFAIRFAX.org
• Sign the petition
• Sign up to receive emails
• Write to School Board members
• Volunteer to help
• Ask your PTA or community group to pass a
  resolution in favor of change