BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A bill on Beacon Hill seeks to push back start times for schools across the state.
The bill (H. 647) would require high schools to start at 8:30 a.m. at the earliest and no earlier than 8:00 a.m. for middle schools. If passed, the bill would take effect in the 2028-29 school year and apply to all public and charter schools in the state.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), less than 8 percent of high school students are getting the recommended nine hours of sleep per night. Insufficient sleep has been found to negatively impact mental health, physical health, and academic performance.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jim MacKay spoke with local students and the overwhelming majority had full support for some more shut eye. Sunny attends high school in Hanover and said she always feels better whenever there’s a delayed start.
"I feel like everyone's progress on those days is a lot more efficient and concentrated," said Sunny.
Dan from Silver Lake High School said he is also on board.
“I think it would help me as a student because I’d get more rest. I’d feel more energized,” said Dan.
Terri from Hingham has a 3rd grader and said a later start time would make a big difference.
“He gets up at 6:30 a.m. right now [and] doesn’t want to get out of bed, and we start bed at 8:00 o’clock at night,” said Terri.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports.