New data show teenagers are sleeping less than prior generations, and public health experts are urging schools to adopt later start times aligned with adolescent circadian biology.
A Pediatrics study found only 37 percent of 12- and 13-year-olds and 22 percent of 18- and 19-year-olds reported at least seven hours of nightly sleep, the lowest rates in 30 years of monitoring. University of Minnesota researcher Rachel Widome said insufficient sleep raises risks of chronic disease and mood disorders.
California requires public high schools to begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m., while other districts experiment with flexible schedules. Swiss research published in March showed students allowed to start later slept about 45 extra minutes on school nights and reported better well-being.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended since 2014 that middle and high schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later. Clark County, Nevada, announced high schools will shift to 8:30 a.m. starts for the 2026-2027 year citing research on attendance and test performance.
Federal data compiled by researchers show average U.S. high school start times vary from 7:30 a.m. in Louisiana to 8:34 a.m. in South Carolina. Florida repealed a 2023 mandate for later bells in 2025, restoring local district control before planned 2026 implementation. Charlotte-Mecklenburg students petitioned for 8:30 a.m. high school starts, citing American Academy of Pediatrics guidance that adolescent biology favors later wake times.
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Sources:
https://dailycuratednews.substack.com/p/news-headlines-may-22-2026