Waking up for school can be challenging for teenagers, particularly after the summer break. Dr. Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, a UPMC sleep expert, emphasizes that school start times often conflict with teenagers’ natural sleep-wake cycles, which shift during puberty. This misalignment results in chronic sleep deprivation, affecting academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC recommend that middle and high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. However, only 13% of high schools meet this guideline. In Pennsylvania, 40 school districts have adjusted their start times to better align with students’ biological clocks, but many schools still start too early.
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/school-start-times-teenage-students-sleep
