Partly True: Starting schools at 10 a.m instead of 8:30 a.m. showed significant benefits in student's health and performance.

By: Ishita Goel
December 4 2020

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Significant changes were noticed by delaying school timings in adolescents. But, further studies are required to assess the time and other factors. Various studies have found that a delay in start school timings after 8 a.m. had a positive effect on adolescents. Overall development in them was observed; this included changes in mood, behavior, grades, physical and mental health. According to a study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, due to the onset of puberty, physiological changes tend to include a longer circadian cycle, which results in circadian rhythm sensitivity decreases to the light in the morning. This process tends to cause teens to fall asleep late and wake up late. In 2017, a research article published in the Frontiers showed an impact on students between the age of 13 to 16 years (mid teenagers) when school starts at 10 a.m. The data was observed and collected with 2,049 students over four years (September 2010–August 2014). School start times changed as follows: 8:50 a.m. in Year 0, 10:00 a.m. in Years 1 and 2, and 8:50 a.m. back again in Year 3. The changes in the time pattern were aligned with adolescent sleep and chronotype patterns. The time 10 a.m. was considered a reasonable compromise for maximizing biological benefits for most children. The results showed that changing to a 10:00 a.m. start time can reduce illness and improve academic performance. Although, the relation in a change in the behavior and mental health with sleep has not been established clearly. They suggest an increase in sleep time gives an advantage to adolescents. The changes in time after 8:30 a.m. may address the circadian delay in adolescents' sleep rhythms and for evening chronotypes, which appears to have few costs and substantial benefits. The topic of school timing is an ongoing debate topic. A positive observation was noticed in changing the starting time. But, further studies are required to conclude the factor of time. There can be limitations observed - the sample size, background of the adolescents, the place, and their environment. Therefore, starting schools at 10 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. provides benefit to teenagers is partly true.