JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Adolescents today face a widespread chronic health problem: sleep deprivation, according to sleepfoundation.com.
Anchorage School District is considering offering more sleep to adolescents, while maximizing learning opportunities for young children, by beginning school days later for high school students and earlier for elementary school students.
Later start times can allow high school students to get more sleep.
According to a Wolfson and Carskadon study, teens are among those least likely to get enough sleep; while they need on average 9.25 hours of sleep per night for optimal performance, health and brain development, teens average fewer than seven hours per school night by the end of high school.
Other schools which operate on the later start times experienced improved test scores and grade point averages. Graduation and attendance rates improved, and tardiness became less common.
As for elementary school students, the Anchorage School District finds elementary students rise early and tire by midafternoon, so early start times are more fitting for them and also tend to coincide with improvements in academics.
Studies the board members have been reviewing also found student wellness benefits for middle and high school students in other areas who attended schools with later start times.
Currently, Anchorage School District elementary schools run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., middle schools run from 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. and high schools run from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The district has proposed two preliminary start time schedules that are more aligned with the research on when students should start school. The district acknowledges that there are many perspectives on what is best and that there are many logistical challenges facing parents. The district is currently sharing two proposals with parents and other stakeholders and may revise these after it has thoroughly listened to by parents, students, teachers, local childcare, safety and traffic experts.
Under the first scenario, elementary schools would run from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., while high schools would run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Times for middle schoolers would remain the same.
Under second scenario, elementary schools would run from 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., while high schools would run from 9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., and middle schools would run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“In considering the potential school start time changes, ASD wants to hear from our students, our parents and families, employees and community members,” said Deena Bishop, Anchorage School District superintendent. “Any change in school schedules will affect every segment of our city. Children whose parents are serving in the U.S. military face many changes throughout their lives. We want to hear from you as these changes are researched and discussed. Thank you for your service in keeping our nation free and safe. As a school district, we want to serve you and your families.”
Anchorage School District has found districts that have converted to similar start and finish times to those being proposed have experienced academic, student performance and student wellness benefits.
“We know there are challenges for some parents if we make a change, but we feel that the benefits are justified. Middle and high school students are more likely to get eight hours of sleep, perform better in school and be healthier in general,” said Shannon Bingham, Anchorage School District lead facilitator for the project. “Elementary school students have also benefited. Other districts that have made the change have been very glad they did. We are working very hard to listen to everyone via approximately 25 meetings between now and summer, and the input we receive will be very valuable.”
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, will host two meetings regarding the possible changes, where parents can voice their opinions:
· Thursday, March 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Ursa Minor Elementary School’s library, 336 Hoonah Ave, on JBER-Richardson.
· Wednesday, March 28 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Mountain Spurr Elementary School’s library, 814 McGuire Ave, on JBER-Elmendorf.
Anchorage School Board will make a decision regarding any possible changes later this year, with implementation projected to begin with the 2019/2020 school year.
For more information, visit www.asdk12.org or contact Catherine Esary at 742-4158.