New Tiers & Start Times for High School, Middle and Elementary Schools for 2023 – 2024 School Year – WJCC Public Schools asks for your input
New Tiers & Start Times for High School, Middle and Elementary Schools for 2023 – 2024 School Year – WJCC asks for your input
There is a proposal on the table introduced on October 4, 2022, about proposed tiers and start times for the 2023-2024 school year. The WJCC School Board is considering these school start and end times changes. The proposed times would rearrange the order of start times from the current order of High School, Middle School and Elementary to a start order of Elementary, High and then Middle schools opening last.
The district does not have the busing capacity to open all schools at the same time. The three tiered system is currently in place this would be a switch in the order for start times for High, Middle and Elementary Schools. The change is in response to research on adolescent sleep patterns, and looking at start times to help with school performance.
Research shows better outcomes for adolescents whose schools have later start times. Within a robust body of research on the topic, the American Academy of Pediatrics identifies start times “as a key modifiable contributor to insufficient sleep, as well as circadian rhythm disruption” among adolescents. The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine identifies teens need 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Standford Medicine research shows, however, teens’ “circadian rhythm — their internal biological clock — shifts to a later time, making it more difficult for them to fall asleep before 11 p.m.” (from WJCC website)
The School Board invites parents and community members to comment on this proposed schedule and you can submit your opinions on this topic in a form located on this link here. There is also more information on this proposed change on that link, in addition to the opinion form.
Author
