Illinois Students Want High School To Start No Earlier Than 8:45 A.M. Not Everyone Agrees
LIBERTYVILLE — Early morning swim practice, a full day of school, evening swim meets, and homework after school is a lot to manage for Maya Anderson. It’s even harder when she doesn’t get enough sleep.
Anderson, a student at Libertyville High School in a suburb north of Chicago, said not getting enough sleep can impact her focus, mood, and performance after a long day. She often struggles to stay awake in class and craves a few more minutes of rest.
It’s why Anderson and two other Libertyville High students — Benjamin Ratner and Addie Krupinski — are advocating for a bill in Springfield that would require public high schools to start no earlier than 8:45 a.m.
The Science Behind the Issue
For over a decade, researchers have been calling attention to sleep loss in teens and advocating for later school start times. Teens like Anderson are supposed to sleep between 8.5 to 9.5 hours, according to a paper from the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2014. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 2024 found that in 2021, 77% of students were not sleeping enough.
Without enough sleep, students are more likely to miss class time and be unable to focus on complex tasks, and are at greater risk of depression.
The Bill and Its Opponents
Rep. Laura Faver Dias, a Democrat whose district includes Libertyville High School, introduced the bill after being persuaded by the Libertyville High School students. The students were able to find interesting research on how later start times could affect students’ academic outcomes, safety, and mental health.
However, lawmakers on the House committee expressed opposition to the idea. Alison Maley, government and public relations director for the Illinois Association of Principals, said she “reluctantly” opposed the proposal because of school busing schedules and high school graduation requirements.
Logistical Concerns
Some lawmakers also raised concerns about the impact on busing schedules and parent work schedules. Rep. Dan Swanson, a Republican on the committee, said that a local board of education in his district switched to a later start time but then reversed that decision due to parent complaints.
Rep. Joyce Mason, a Democrat on the committee, noted that another school district changed its start times for middle schoolers, but there were issues related to busing as well as parent work schedules, and teacher concerns.
The Future of the Bill
It’s unclear what will happen to the bill next. Faver Dias said the goal of Wednesday’s committee hearing was to show lawmakers that the issue is important to high school students’ well-being. Faver Dias said there are logistical hurdles for districts, but she said she wanted “to start the conversation around educating legislators and district leaders that it really matters and it can actually show benefit across the board.”
Conclusion
The debate surrounding the bill highlights the complex issues surrounding school start times and the impact on students’ well-being. While some lawmakers and education officials are concerned about the logistical challenges, others see the potential benefits of later start times, including improved academic performance and reduced risk of depression.
FAQs
- What is the proposed bill?
The proposed bill would require public high schools in Illinois to start no earlier than 8:45 a.m. - What is the reasoning behind the proposal?
The proposal is based on research suggesting that later school start times can improve students’ sleep, academic performance, and mental health. - Who is supporting the proposal?
The students from Libertyville High School, including Maya Anderson, Benjamin Ratner, and Addie Krupinski, are advocating for the proposal, as well as Rep. Laura Faver Dias, a Democrat who introduced the bill. - Who is opposing the proposal?
Alison Maley, government and public relations director for the Illinois Association of Principals, and some lawmakers on the House committee have expressed concerns about the proposal, citing logistical challenges related to busing schedules and parent work schedules.
