California became the first US state to start school day later

Some California students will be able to get enough sleep in the morning, thanks to a law signed Sunday by Governor Gavin Newsom, which obliges students to start school hours later in most public schools.

Фото: Depositphotos

The new law mentions studies that show students learn better if they start school days later than usual. This law will make California the first US state with such a requirement as soon as it is fully implemented, writes Yahoo with reference to the Los Angeles Times.

Schools will have to start the school day no earlier than 8: 00 in the morning for high schools and no earlier than 8: 30 for seniors. The innovation should be implemented before the July 1 of the 2022 year, or by the expiration date of the three-year collective agreement of the school with its employees, whichever comes later.

According to a government analysis this year, most California public schools will need to delay starting school in accordance with the new law. About 50%, you will need to delay the start time of classes by 30 minutes or less; the analysis showed that 25% of schools will have to postpone it for 31 – 60 minutes.

The law will not affect the so-called “zero lessons” or classes offered before the start of a regular school day. Rural school districts are also exempted from postponing the start of school day.

Newsom said the schools are given enough time to adapt to the new time limits, which, he said, are aimed at helping teenagers in California.

«Наука показывает, что подростки, начинающие день позже, повышают свою успеваемость, посещаемость и улучшают общее состояние здоровья, — говорится в заявлении Ньюсома. — Важно отметить, что закон позволяет школам и школьным округам планировать и осуществлять эти изменения в течение трех лет».

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Some medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the California Medical Association, supported the bill.

Describing adolescent inadequate sleep as a public health problem, a group of pediatricians told the LA Times that it "endorses the scientific rationale for the later start of schooling and recognizes the potential benefits for students regarding physical and mental health, safety, and academic achievement."

However, not everyone agreed with these statements.

Last year, former governor Jerry Brown vetoed such a law, saying that decisions about when school lessons begin are “best handled in the local community.”

Opponents of the measure, including the California Teachers Association and some school districts, echoed similar concerns.

«Подростки справляются со своими задачами лучше, когда больше спят, но мы не верим, что начало учебы в школе — это единственный путь, — заявил в прошлом месяце законодательный адвокат Сет Брэмбл. — Обязательное время начала обучения в школах штата было бы обременительным мандатом по вопросу, который лучше оставить местным округам и их родителям. Вариант «один размер подходит всем» не работает в Калифорнии».

Critics also warn that some families, especially those from the working class, may be particularly affected by this law.

«Несмотря на благие намерения, предложения о назначении времени начала обучения в школе не принимают во внимание сложность проблемы и укрепляют иллюзию того, что недосыпание подростка имеет простое решение», — написали два школьных суперинтенданта из Сан-Хосе, Крис Функ и Нэнси Альбарран.

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«Многих школьников по утрам отвозят родители, которые отправляются на работу задолго до нынешнего времени начала занятий. То, что все округа откладывают начало школьного дня, не изменит эту реальность. Это приведет к тому, что ученики будут вставать с постели в то же время, что и сейчас, но будут находиться в кампусе без присмотра в течение более длительного периода», — сказали суперинтенданты.

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