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Resident urges Racine Unified to consider later high‑school start times to improve sleep and outcomes
Summary
A district resident told the board that later start times for high schools can improve sleep, academic performance and attendance, and suggested flipping elementary and high‑school schedules to avoid busing conflicts.
Christian DeYoung of Caledonia addressed the Racine Unified School District Board of Education during the public comment period on Feb. 17 and urged the district to study later high‑school start times to improve student sleep, health and academic outcomes.
DeYoung said many local high schools start at about 7:15 a.m., with bus pick‑ups as early as 6 a.m., which forces students to awaken much earlier. He cited research organizations — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Psychological Association, the National Institutes of Health and others — saying later start times are associated with increased sleep duration, better grades and improved attendance. “Sleep deprivation in teenagers is a well documented issue,” DeYoung said, adding that chronobiology shifts in adolescence make later starts beneficial.
He recommended the district examine schedule changes and suggested “flipping” elementary and high‑school start times as one possible approach to avoid bussing conflicts and to allow older students more sleep and opportunities to assist family routines.
No board action was taken on the proposal during the meeting; the comment was entered into the public record under the meeting’s public‑comment procedures.
