GOLDEN, Colo. — Should school start later? That’s what officials with Jeffco Public Schools are debating for the coming school years.
Citing recent research that suggests teens perform better when classes begin later, superintendent Dr. Jason Glass is hosting a community meeting regarding school start times.
“Changing start times is complex and involves considerations around athletics, activities, working students, transportation, and more,” explained Dr. Glass.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that middle and high schools start at 8:30 a.m., along with 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep each night for adolescents.
District officials will organize a task force to examine the issue after the first community meeting, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Jeffco Education Center in Golden.
If the task force recommends a change in school start times, the change would be implemented for the 2019-20 school year at the earliest.
