Florida can replenish the budget for 9 billion at school expense

Фото: Depositphotos

If schools in Florida allow teens to sleep longer, over the next 15 years the economic effect will be $ 9 billions.

According to a new report by the non-profit research organization RAND Corporation, it was found that if you move lessons to a later time in middle and high classes, this will lead to a reduction in the number of fatal car accidents. In addition, it will help children do better in school, increasing the likelihood of graduating and going to college.

In general, as shown by the analysis, additional sleep will increase the US economy by $ 83 billion over a decade and lead to economic results in the amount of $ 641 million in Florida in just two years.

“A small change could lead to large economic benefits over a short period of time for the U.S.,” said Marco Hafner, senior economist for the European Union at RAND Corporation RAND Europe.

It is no secret that teenagers need to sleep more than adults, and, of course, they tend to go to bed later. Health experts recommend that young people sleep from 8 to 10 hours a day, but early lessons in schools prevent most of them from sleeping. As a result, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association recommend middle and high schools to begin classes no earlier than 8: 30 in the morning.

The Miami-Date schools in 2014 tested the later start of the workflow and found that they did not always disrupt sleep. The district began a pilot program at several high schools three years ago, allowing 150 adolescents to study one of the classes online at any time of the day, and come to 8: 30 in the morning. This is more than an hour after the start of classes in most schools, where they start at 7: 20.

Afterwards, the district studied the results with the help of doctors from the International University of Florida and interviewed participating students. Less than 30% of adolescents admitted that they just went to bed later every night.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that, at the national level, around 80% of middle and high schools start their studies before 8: 30, according to the RAND report, creating an “inherent conflict” between adolescent biology and the time to start studying.

The study reports a lack of sleep among adolescents in terms of physical and psychological health, suicidal thoughts and concentration problems, as well as obesity and an increased risk of violence.

According to the report, an extra hour of sleep each day increases the likelihood that a student will graduate from high school and go to college. A high school and college diploma will affect your teen career and future earnings. A previous study by the Buckings Institute found that starting classes one hour later each day would lead to an increase in income of $ 175 000 over a lifetime.

However, school districts are reluctant to postpone the start of the school day, citing costs in changing the bus schedule and the complexity of redevelopment of post-school sports electives.

In California, lawmakers seem to take note of this data. They are considering a bill according to which study should begin no earlier than 8: 30 in the morning for middle and high school students.

Read also on ForumDaily:

How much does it cost to get a child to an American school?

Mother tongue: how to teach a child the Russian language in the USA

How America is obsessed with raising self-esteem

Private schools in the USA: how to give a child to study if you are not a resident

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.