Seattle School Board Approves Later Start Times

At first glance, some might think it's a controversial idea. But apparently (at least in Seattle) there's some evidence to support the idea.

It's a theory that's spreading across the country in various school districts, even Walla Walla officials are talking about it at school board meetings. The idea of moving class start times back, to allow students more time to sleep or rest before coming to school.

Seattle School officials have voted to officially bump class start times back to 8:45am, nearly an hour later than the earliest classes had started.

Most high and middle schools within the City of Seattle district limits will observe these new start times, and some elementary schools will be bumped back to as late as 9:35. While the middle and high school times have not been met with much resistance, many elementary parents are upset over the 9:35 time.

These parents argue that their children are naturally awake and fresh, ready to go nearly two hours earlier, but get tired later in the day, and during the winter, it's almost dark by the time they are out of school.

The changes will take effect during the 2016-17 school year, with a number of built-in contingencies for parental input and for possible tweaks to the program.