Edmonds School District panel recommends later high-school start; 08:05 option favored

A two-year committee convened by the Edmonds School District recommended moving high-school start times later, presenting two concrete options to the board on Oct. 14 and asking for further community outreach on timing and implementation. Assistant Superintendent Greg Schwab said the committee's work began in September 2023 and included parents, staff, students, and administrators.

The committee considered research showing academic and health benefits of later secondary start times. Schwab cited multiple studies, including a Seattle study showing students gained about 34 minutes of sleep and a 4.5% grade improvement in the studied course when high schools started one hour later. He told the board that local data showed trends toward higher absences and lower grades in early-morning classes, and that an initial community survey of more than 7,000…