Lower Merion School District’s high schools are pushing back their starting time by an hour this year, writes Jim Melwert for KYW Newsradio.

“Research has shown that teenagers have trouble falling asleep earlier in the evening, and with these later start times, this will enable our high school students to get sufficient sleep before the buses come to pick them up,” said Lower Merion School District Community Relations Director Amy Buckman.

Lower Merion High School and Harriton High School will start at 8:30 AM. Meanwhile, middle schools will start at 8 AM and elementary schools at 9:10 AM.

Buckman noted that these changes will affect traffic in Lower Merion come September 3, and asked morning drivers to exercise a little patience.

“Be careful on the roadways – students and buses and traffic will be impacted by this, and just be aware and be careful,” she said.

Buckman added that the benefits of starting classes an hour later include improved performance in school, better emotional well-being, and fewer car accidents.

Read more about Lower Merion School District at KYW Newsradio.

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