After years of science showing that teenagers need more sleep, the state of New Jersey is moving toward making that mandatory by legislating later high school start times.
A bill introduced last week by the powerful speaker of the state Assembly, Craig Coughlin, would require public high schools to start the school day no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
Start times are currently a patchwork around New Jersey. South Brunswick High School, one of the state's largest by total student body, starts classes at 7:30 a.m.; another of the largest schools, Union City HS, starts at 7:40 a.m.
Other districts have already gone to 8 a.m. or later. Millburn officials told NorthJersey.com that students were very happy with the change, and that the district was open to the legislature pushing schools even later.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics has been outspoken on this issue for years. In 2014, the group published a policy statement saying there were clear mental and physical effects from starting schools earlier than 8:30 a.m.
The state teachers union told NorthJersey.com it was open to discussing the idea.
