Red Oak ISD should propose a start time that’s reasonable  for  junior high and high school students. Instead of 8:15 a.m., it would be better for the school day to begin at 9:15 a.m. and end at 4:55 p.m. That way, no one is late to school because everyone will be wide awake and ready to learn.

Teenagers need about eight to nine hours of sleep per night. Many teens sleep late because they aren’t going to bed early enough due to homework or after-school activities. It would be better if school started later, especially for high school students. Many teenagers sleep in class because they didn’t get enough sleep the night before.

Researchers have said that starting school later can benefit school attendance, standardized test scores, and academic performance. At ROJH, we need to solve the issues of attendance and behaviors. Starting school later might be good for many schools. More people will come, and there will be fewer tardies and consumption of caffeinated drinks. Some research has also shown that a later school start time can decrease car accidents. If someone isn’t a morning person they are not likely to be wide awake, which you need to be when you are driving.

The district should seriously consider changing its start time in an effort to help school attendance and student health.