We're fighting for something we consider basic human rights--sleep, health, safety, and a chance for an appropriate education. Starting school in the 7 o'clock hour, a practice that began a few decades ago primarily to save money on bus runs, makes these things impossible for many adolescents and young adults in this country, who jeopardize their health, safety, and education at risk simply by going to school. Many people seem to forget that teenagers are still growing children (or even that they're human beings). School is not a job, and it is not a choice. Forcing teens to go to school at times that are incompatible with what we now know are shifted biological clocks, and a need for about 9 hours of sleep per night, is negligent, if not criminal. And we feel that the only way to stop it is a kind of child protection law similar to those set for child labor. A government limit on how early schools can open would make it easier for local school systems to do the right thing when they set schedules, instead of bowing to political pressures that currently keep most of them from changing school hours. We began back in 2011 with an online petition that is still in circulation. On March 7, 2012 we began delivering it to Washington DC in a series of "Wake Up Wednesdays" We are continuing these deliveries and setting up meetings with national, state, and local decision makers to raise awareness about the need for safe, healthy, humane school start times for all students, culminating in the passage of California's landmark "Start School Later" bill. But we're not done yet! We still have lots of work to do raising awareness, serving as a clearinghouse for information, and helping local communities move to safe, healthy school hours for all. As a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we have three chief activities, all essential to our mission: education, research, and advocacy. For more information on our activities on all of these fronts, please see our website: www.StartSchoolLater.net.
