Some Illinois school districts are looking at moving back start times due to studies that show early mornings are hurting students’ performance.
The results of a pediatric sleep study found that puberty pushes back adolescents’ internal clocks up to two hours. This makes students less productive on early school days. Emergency room Dr. Nitin Soorya is leading a push in suburban Chicago to move school start times to after 8:30 a.m. Soorya says sleep is tied to every aspect of teen life.
Southern-Illinois mom Elise Rebmann says her Edwardsville School District’s early mornings are too hard on her teenager.
Elgin, Naperville and Arlington Heights are all exploring later start times. Normal School District decided in March to move back its start time. But school officials in Edwardsville say it’s too costly to change bus routes for later start times.
