Parent Teacher Student Association of McLean High School ~ Home of the Highlanders

 SLEEP (Start Later for Excellence in Education Proposal)

FCCPTA Survey re: Later Start Times for High Schools New!!

The Fairfax County School Board believes that later start times would be beneficial for high school students and is looking into the possibility of changing school start times to better correspond with children's sleep cycles.  The primary reason for the change would be to improve student health and academic performance.

A Transportation Task Force composed of parents, principals, teachers, coaches and representatives from a wide range of community groups recently proposed changes to transportation and bell schedules.  The Task Force considered an incredibly broad range of issues related to these subjects over a 6-month period. 

To review the recommendations presented to the School Board, please visit: http://www.fcps.edu/fts/taskforce07/documents/finalreport/majorityfinalreport.pdf.

The Fairfax County Council of PTAs (FCCPTA) has asked us to help promote a survey they are doing to learn more about parent perspectives with regard to school start times and the daily schedule.  Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey http://www.fccpta.org/trans_survey/ start_time_survey.htm It takes about 3 to 5 minutes to complete—depending on how much thought you put into your answers. 

Background:  Here are some items to keep in mind as you take the survey:

~  Bell schedules (start and end times of the school day) are based on using buses to make more than one trip.
~  Now, buses are used 2 or 3 times each morning, so start times are staggered across three basic time frames.
~  Elementary schools are in all three time frames from 7:50 am to 9:25 am.
~  If bell schedules change, elementary schools would still be in all three time frames, but more elementary schools would start between 7:50 am and 8:55 am.
~  Some elementary schools would still be in the latest time frame, starting between 9:00 am and 9:40 am.

The Fairfax County Council of PTAs (FCCPTA) would like to know about your student's school-related habits and your views on this issue.  Responses are anonymous.  Please submit one survey per household.  If you have questions, please contact the FCCPTA School Start Survey Coordinator.

Update on Transportation Task Force Work (May 20, 2008)

Work has started on creating a specific school-by-school bell schedule based on the Transportation Task Force (TTF) recommendations for later high school start times.  It should be completed by the end of July. The School Board will start considering it in the fall, including holding town hall meetings. The earliest it could be implemented would be September 2009.

Decisions made last week about how to develop that schedule may add to its cost and may make some of the late-starting elementary schools (ES) open later than necessary.

Here’s why: The TTF made several recommendations aimed at cutting costs and keeping start times in politically acceptable ranges, but many of these have been rejected in favor of current policies in developing the bell schedule.

SLEEP has asked the School Board in a recent speech to do the following to help make the new bell schedule less costly and more viable:

• Work with ES principals to determine whether slightly earlier drop-off and entry into the building is possible (TTF proposals). This could mean the difference between the late ES starting around 9:10 rather than as late as 9:40 am.
• Reconsider a decision to place more middle schools on the 2nd bell with high schools, which would push more ES into the late tier. (TTF had more ES on 2^nd bell (8:35-8:55 am), more MS on 3^rd  (9:20-9:40 am).
• Work with the TJ community to determine a depot or shuttle system that works for that school. 

·         Work with the GT community to determine whether a depot or shuttle system would work for traditional GT centers, such as the one now safely used for ES magnet school programs.

·         Work with school communities to consolidate bus stops. Once parents understand that bus stop consolidation can reduce bus ride times for their students, save money and help create healthy bell schedules, we will be willing to help. 

·         Make the most of the computer software to optimize our bus routes and our system.

Later Start Times for  High School Students (April 2008)

The effort to change Fairfax County Public School start times by parents concerned about the health impact of too-early high school start times on adolescent students has been going on for 10 years. SLEEP was started in January 2004 by Sandy Evans and Phyllis Payne. Momentum appears to be building for a change.  In March 2008, the School Board's Transportation Task Force (TTF) recommended that FCPS change bell schedules and improve system efficiency to enable later start times for high school students.  The TTF Preferred Bell Schedule (ES/HS/MS) is:

• Most elementary schools would start 7:50 - 8:55; end 2:30-3:45 (Some still after 9 am)
• High schools would start between 8:35 and 8:55; end 3:15-3:45
• Middle schools would start between 9:20 and 9:40; end 4-4:30

The TTF expects its recommendations to be cost neutral (no extra buses or drivers would be required).  Other schools have switched to later start times with no added costs (Arlington, VA; Minneapolis & Edina, MN; Wilton, CT; Albemarle, VA).

Doctors, Teachers, Researchers Support Later Start Times:

• The Medical Society of Northern Virginia in March passed a Resolution in support of later start times and calling on FCPS to help teens get more sleep. Full text can be viewed at www.sleepinfairfax.org.
• The Fairfax Education Association, the largest teacher’s organization, polled its members in February about later start times and got more than 2,300 responses, the most of any FEA survey. Conclusion: 79% say high schools start too early (with many passionate comments on the subject).  Link to the survey.
• The Role of Sleep in Memory and Learning Conference (March 2008, Washington DC), which brought together the nation's top sleep researchers, included support for later start times in its “Messages to the Public”:
  • "Changes in sleep and circadian regulation occurring in adolescence are inconsistent with optimal learning when morning school start times are too early (before 8:30 - 9am)."
  • "Adequate sleep will help you learn, retain and fully understand new material."

It is critical to have a large number of people involved in the effort.  The School Board, FCPS Superintendent and other County leaders need to know that there is community support for this change.  It is time for this issue to be a top priority.  Our children deserve to have a complete night of rest.  It's not an option.  It's a physical requirement.  Our children's health and safety should not be comprised for the convenience of the status quo.  Here's what you can do to help make later start times a reality for our students:

• Sign the SLEEP petition and join the email distribution list to show that you want FCPS to make secondary school start times later in the morning.
• Write a letter or send an email to your School Board Member to let them know that you think it's important to have the secondary schools start later in the morning. This sample letter will give you some ideas, but it is always better to write your own.                                         
• Contact McLean HS SLEEP Pyramid Coordinator Bryan Cox bryancox@acli.com and let him know you're available to volunteer.
• Email SLEEP2005@aol.com for more information.

To learn more about the history of this issue in Fairfax and to find out more about how you can help bring about later start times for high schools, please visit www.sleepinfairfax.org

Update on Work to Get Later High School Start Times (June 2007) 

SLEEP sent out the following information to its members on June 24th: School Board Members decided on Monday, June 11, that they would create a citizen Task Force to work on transportation and the reworking of bell schedules. They discussed the issue further at a forum on June 21. 

This is a positive step. Some proposals have had the community involved only after staff has created one proposal for consideration. SLEEP has advocated for full community involvement throughout the process. Here is the rough timeline the SB tentatively adopted at their June 11 work session:

June/July: SB works on guidelines for new bell schedules and consider the makeup of the Task Force

September: Task Force would give advice on guidelines for new bell schedules

October: SB finalizes guidelines (parameters) for bell schedules

Nov/Dec: Staff would start working on reworking schedules

Dec: Broader community would review guidelines being used

2008:  Staff would develop new bell schedules, to be discussed with community

On Thursday, the School Board members discussed the composition of the Task Force. On the size of the Task Force, opinions ranged from 30-60. Who will be at the table and how they will be chosen is still under discussion.

The Linkages Committee will consider this further at a meeting at 1 pm on Thursday, June 28, at the Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Rd., Falls Church, 22042.  Please consider attending.

Detailed Information: At the June 11 work session, staff presented materials on transportation issues related to start times.  We have added our own information and comments and posted these on the SLEEP website at www.sleepinfairfax.org.

High School Start Times

Check out the June 14, 2007 editorial in the McLean Connection Newspaper which talks about how you can get involved in resetting the start time for high schools.

Additional information on work to get later start times for high school students in Fairfax County is available in the attached May 30th article from the Connection Newspaper.

Legue of Women Voters Endorsement of Later Start Times

The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area (LWVFA) has a newly released concurrence statement in support of later start times for Fairfax County middle and high schools:

The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area believes that it is desirable to delay the start time for instruction at all high schools and middle schools in order to provide the best opportunity for student learning and to promote adolescent health and safety. The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area recommends that Fairfax Public Schools fully explore the feasibility of adopting later start times for middle and high schools.

SLEEP is delighted to have the support of such a well-respected and impartial organization.  LWVFA members carefully considered the issue, completing studies in 2006 and 2007.  These studies are available online and provide an excellent summary of the transportation issues involved in making later high school start times possible. The LWVFA deliberations on this issue have been impressive. The process was thorough and thoughtful.  The people who attended the meetings to discuss this were well-informed and prepared for the dialogue.  To learn more about the League and its activities, please check out their website.

The LWVFA joins the following groups in supporting later start times for teenagers:

• FCCPTA (position paper, current, adopted Feb. 2005)

• Virginia PTA (State Convention Resolution, Nov. 2006)

• FCPS School Health Advisory Committee (Year end report 2005, 2006 and 2007 in draft)

• Student Advisory Council (Vote in 2005; included in recommendations for High Schools of the Future, 2006; more sleep included in recommendations to School Board spring 2007)

• National Sleep Foundation

• McLean Citizen’s Association (Resolution, 2005)

• Robinson PTSA and Woodson HS PTSA (letters to School Board)

You can also view a Washington Post article on more science showing the need for later start times for teens.

       SLEEP and Later Start Times Profiled on CBS Early Show

SLEEP and later start times got national coverage from the CBS Early Show on Friday, May 4th. Click here to watch the piece.

          Board of Supervisors Public Hearing on School Budget

If you're concerned about the early start time at McLean High School, come support Co-Founders of SLEEP (Start Later for Excellence in Education Proposal), Sandy Evans and Phyllis Payne, when they testify at the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors public hearing on the school budget on Wednesday, April 11^th.  The larger the crowd, the more likely the Board of Supervisors will attend to the message that later start times are needed for middle school and high schools in Fairfax County. The hearing starts at 7 p.m.  They estimate they will testify sometime between 7:45 and 8:15 p.m. Please join them during this 30 minute window.  You will be given one of the yellow SLEEP signs to hold up.  The meeting will be held in the Fairfax County School Board Auditorium in the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, in Fairfax.

League of Women Voters to Vote on Concurrence Statement Regarding Later Start Times

The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area will vote on a concurrence statement regarding later start times during April’s unit meetings.  To view articles on this issue click here for "Can We Afford Later Start Times" and click here for "Later Start Times for Fairfax Schools Part II". To view information on the meetings visit the League's website at www.lwv-fairfax.org/

Update on February 7^th School Board Budget Meeting

On February 7th, the Fairfax County School Board voted 7 to 5 to include a $300,000 placeholder in the school system’s 2008 budget to address pressing transportation issues. While the final motion did not specifically mention later start times, SLEEP sees reengineering transportation as a step toward achieving that goal.  Not as clear a victory as we’d like, but a victory nonetheless.

SLEEP was impressed with the number and quality of the emails from SLEEP supporters. Several Board members mentioned the emails they had received, and we know this placeholder would not have passed without constituent input.

The final vote on Kory-Hunt amendment: 7 AYES (SLEEP position): Kaye Kory, Steve Hunt, Janet Oleszek, Ilyong Moon, Cathy Belter, Phil Niedzielski-Eichner, and Janie Strauss. 5 NAYS:  Stu Gibson, Brad Center, Dan Storck, Tessie Wilson and Kathy Smith.  Some of those voting against the motion said they were doing so only because they want the Board to discuss the issue at upcoming work sessions and make more decisions on their direction before committing money to the endeavor. (SLEEP asked them not to wait.)  Mr. Niedzielski-Eichner, on the other hand, cautioned that his “aye” vote signifies his interest in taking responsible action on the transportation consultant’s “call to arms” with regard to our over-taxed transportation system and does not indicate a policy decision on later start times.

Check out Two Recent Stories from National Public Radio on Teenagers and Sleep

National Public Radio, Morning Edition, January 18, 2007:High Schools Starting Later to Help Sleepy Teens (Children who get less sleep may develop symptoms of depression and low self-esteem)
 

National Public Radio, Morning Edition, January 18, 2007:Helping Teens Make Peace with Sleep

Update on Jan 29^th, 2007 Public Hearing on School Board Budget

Two students, Jim Priebe and Dylan Phillips, spoke about how the early start time affects their lives, explaining that they are so exhausted that they cannot focus on their work and choose not to participate in after-school activities.  Kali Steinberg, a 6^th grader, told the board that it makes no sense to have her schedule shift so dramatically between 6 ^th and 7^th grade.  Her school starts at 9 now.  Next year, she will have to start at 7:30.

Adult speakers included:  SLEEP Co-Founders Sandy Evans and Phyllis Payne, Marie Reinsdorf (Falls Church), Katarina Berger (Lee), Dr. Diana Adams (Langley), Catherine Potter (Woodson), Jo Gilbert (Madison), Thomas Van Wazer, Norma Jean Young (Annandale), Debra Goldenberg Phillips, and Robert Marro.  Some other supporters were not able to attend but submitted written testimony.

SLEEP Update (December 2007)

• Most of the school board members expressed a belief that FCPS must re-engineer its transportation system sooner rather than later to avert a true collapse.

• Several agreed that later high school start times should be included as part of the overhaul.

• Initial costs of creating later high school start times might be greater than the modeled estimates but would settle in to that level as real-world efficiencies are regained.

• The school board members agreed to hold another work session in January to discuss how to move forward.

FCCPTA/SLEEP Town Meeting a Success 

Approximately 100 people attended the FCCPTA/SLEEP Town Meeting on Sunday Oct. 29 to hear experts discuss the role of sleep in teenagers' physical and mental health, make comments and ask questions of the panelists.  FCCPTA President Ramona Morrow opened the Town Meeting, which was moderated by Mason District School Board Member Kaye Kory at Falls Church High School.

Nationally known sleep specialist, Dr. Helene Emsellem, was the keynote speaker, highlighting the serious physical and emotional impact sleep deprivation has on teenagers.  She provided practical advice on helping teens get enough sleep, many of them outlined in her new book, "Snooze or Lose! 10 'No-War' Ways to Improve Your Teen's Sleep Habits."  Sports psychiatrist Dr. Antonia Baum spoke of how studies have shown that students who get less sleep also participate less in sports and how sleep deprivation negatively impacts sports performance.  Elaine Furlow, former Arlington School Board Member, explained how Arlington achieved later high school start times using a cooperative approach of citizen involvement to support school system efforts. Robinson High School senior Claire Tuley talked about how many students rarely eat breakfast, rely on caffeine to stay awake during school and spend most of their days exhausted.  George Mason University professor Dr. Adam Winsler outlined extensive surveys performed at Fairfax County's JEB Stuart High School that showed overwhelming support for later start times among parents, teachers and students and also showed that later end times would not interfere with typical student jobs.

About 45 minutes were set aside for audience questions and comments.  Parents voiced concerns about the mental health impact of the current school schedule, the economic consequences of having students not learning up to their potential, and the difficulty their own teenagers have in getting enough sleep. One speaker expressed concern that students would only stay up later if school started later.  Panelists and SLEEP representatives cited studies in jurisdictions that have made the change showing that students do in fact use the time for more sleep.  For more information visit www.sleepinfairfax.org.

For more information about SLEEP, visit the SLEEP website at www.sleepinfairfax.org

Material  on this page is reprinted with permission from SLEEP (Start Later for Excellence in Education Proposal).

Updated June 11, 2008