Members of the York County School Division will discuss whether they want to allow high school students to start the school day a little later or leave start times the same at tonight’s work session.
The division has been considering later school day start times for its high school students after hearing of research that shows it benefits teenage students. According to the findings, a teenager’s natural sleep pattern is to fall asleep later at night and wake up later in the day.
Research has also shown that allowing teenagers to sleep later increases their academic performance.
Cindy Kirschke, a board member, brought up the issue in February and subsequently asked to have constituents surveyed on the matter. The board ultimately decided to hold off on the survey to do internal research on how it would affect things like bus routes and the athletics program.
In September, a few citizens showed up to a September meeting to speak in favor of changing the start times, citing benefits to their own children. In October, the board narrowed down a list of six possible bus route options the board felt comfortable might work under a later start schedule.
While the school board meeting agenda does not yet specify what tonight’s talk will be about, it is expected school officials will discuss what later start times would mean for after-school activities.
The special work session begins 6 p.m. today in York Hall.
