The Pennsbury School District is adjusting its start times, shifting high schools to a later start while also moving middle schools to an earlier one, writes JD Mullane for the Bucks County Courier Times.
Beginning in September, high school students will start their day at 8:15 a.m., nearly an hour later than the current 7:20 a.m. start time.
Meanwhile, middle schoolers will begin at 7:35 a.m., which is 35 minutes earlier than before. Elementary schools will keep their current 9 a.m. start times.
“These changes require careful coordination of transportation schedules across all schools in the district,” said Jennifer Neill, district spokeswoman. “Due to the logistical challenges of running multiple bus routes with a finite number of buses and drivers, the 35-minute adjustment to the middle school start times ensures that all students can be transported safely and on time.”
These changes come in response to several studies published over the last two decades, which have highlighted the benefits of later start times. These include having students who are more alert, reduced juvenile delinquency, and can even lead to lower obesity rates.
Read more about the Pennsbury School District adjusting its start times in the Bucks County Courier Times.
_______
