Codey Bill Establishing Later School Start Time Pilot Program Advances

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senator Richard Codey, which would establish a four-year pilot program in the Department of Education (DOE) on later school start times for high school students, passed the Senate Education Committee.

“Adolescents are not getting enough sleep to live up to their full academic potential, and early school start times are to blame,” said Senator Codey (D-Essex/Morris). “Numerous studies support that early school start times conflict with the basic biology of adolescents. A later start time of 8:30 a.m. would provide significant advantages for the learning abilities, health, safety and overall well-being of students, a claim supported by The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control.

“The information gathered from this pilot program would be beneficial in measuring the impact the change would have in the academic performance of students. I believe that this change will provide our students with the best opportunity to learn, and ultimately succeed,” he said.

Under the bill, S-3160, the pilot program would study the issues, benefits and options for instituting later school start times at high schools by:

1. Implementing the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

1. Including an assessment of the health, academic and safety benefits associated with the later start times.

1. Evaluating any potential negative impacts on school districts and families associated with the start times, including issues related to transportation and after school activities.

School districts that include grades nine through 12 would submit an application to the DOE commissioner. Five school districts would be selected by the commissioner to participate in the pilot program and would be required to submit a report to the governor and legislature when the program concludes.

The bill passed committee with a vote of 6-0.