Middle school and high school students in California will be able to snooze a little longer before heading to class this year, due to a law delaying school start times that takes effect this year.
Citing research on the impacts of adolescent sleep deprivation and the benefits of a later school start time, the state Legislature passed a law in 2019 requiring public high schools to begin classes no earlier than 8:30 a.m., while middle schools can begin instruction no earlier than 8 a.m.
The average start time for high schools across the state prior to the pandemic was 8:04 a.m., according to a 2017-18 survey by the U.S. Department of Education….