Nothing like a few extra Z's in the morning.
Any teenager will tell you so.And the Salt Lake City Board of Education is looking into making some sleepy-time dreams come true. It's considering whether to let high school start 30 minutes, maybe even an hour, later. The high school bell now rings around 7:30 a.m.
The board Tuesday asked for more information on that, plus whether to pilot a program in one high school, where schedules would change and some kids would start later than others to see if there's any benefit.
"I think there's interest in all three schools," board member Karen Derrick said.
But there are down sides, too, and the board and school communities will have to determine whether it's worth it.
The request follows a yearlong district study of adolescent sleep needs. A group of doctors, teachers, principals and parents gathered data, including that from a Minnesota high school that has switched to later start times.
A University of Minnesota study has found mounting medical evidence that time of day, biological clocks and sleep affect teens' preparedness to learn.
Kids' biological clocks reset at puberty. Teens need 9.2 hours of shut-eye per night -- adults need eight -- when they actually receive about seven hours. Pile on school activities and work, and you have a recipe for sleep deprivation.
Sleep deprivation is linked to more than grumpiness. Consequences include increased tardiness at school, susceptibility to illness and an increase of morning car crashes, a district report states.
Nearly two-thirds of teens asked in one study said lack of sleep worsened school performance, and even students who liked their early morning classes say it's hard to stay awake, the district has found.
Schools that start an hour later see decreased tardiness and students coming to school ready to learn instead of ready for a nap, said district director of high schools Dorothy Cosgrove.
"It's hart to get up so early and pay attention, but I think 8:30 is good," said student board member Dat Nguyen. He attends Horizonte Instruction and Training Center, which starts at 8:30 a.m.
Highland High School starts 15 minutes later this year on block schedule, and school board member Laurel Heath Young has heard cheerful feedback.
But assistant principal Don Barlow says he hasn't seen a change in tardiness. Starting class an hour or more later might accomplish that. But that, he said, would require careful community study in possibly flip-flopping elementary and high school schedules and transportation.
"It would probably be a good thing if it's possible," Barlow said. "(But) as a parent, I wouldn't want 5- and 6-year-olds coming at 7:45 in the morning."
The board knows a change could have other down sides, including altering student job hours and family schedules. Also, the Utah High School Activities Association schedules events based on schools getting out early. Starting some schools later could cause kids to miss class time to participate or sit out of some events.
Transportation also would be an issue. The suggested pilot program could cost more than $75,000 to hire more bus drivers, district business administrator Gary Harmer indicated.
Not everyone may want to start later, either. An informal survey of 200 East High families indicated about one-third of students would like to start later, said Alta Davis, school community council chairwoman.
Sure, sleeping in is cool, she says, but losing afternoon free time -- that's quite another matter.