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SLU/YouGov Poll Analysis: Missouri Voters Favor Later School Start Times to Meet Adolescent Sleep Needs

by Courtney Vahle, Ed.D. on 08/29/2024

08/29/2024

 The SLU PRiME Center’s Courtney Vahle, Ed.D. provides expert analysis on the latest SLU/YouGov Poll results as they pertain to high school start times.

A study in Pediatrics suggested students lose up to two hours of sleep per night during the school year compared to their typical summer sleep patterns. Recognizing the importance of sleep, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) endorses delaying middle and high school start times to 8:30 a.m. or later to promote adequate sleep in adolescents.

A review of the connections between delayed school start times and adolescent sleep suggested delaying school start times by 25-60 minutes for middle and high school students corresponded to an increase of 25-77 minutes of sleep per school night. And that extra sleep is not without benefit to students. Studies have found that delaying start times for older students was associated with higher test scores and positive student engagement outcomes.

A recent publication from the PRiME Center shows high schools in Missouri begin, on average, at 7:48 a.m., a full 42 minutes earlier than the recommendation with some beginning as early as 7 a.m., In fact, only 3% of Missouri high schools begin class at the AAP’s recommended 8:30 a.m., or later, and one in five schools begin class before 7:30 a.m. 

The August 2024 SLU/YouGov Poll asked 900 likely Missouri voters whether they support or oppose their local school district delaying high school start times until 8:30 a.m. Results overwhelmingly suggest Missouri voters are in favor of pushing back start times (52% support overall), particularly those voters aged 18-44, who are more likely to have school-aged children (more than 71% support). Pushing back school start times also had a large partisan split, with considerably more favor from Democrats (67%) than Republicans (39%). The measure polled more favorably in the urban regions of the state, St. Louis and Kansas City.

Likely voters' responses to 'Do you support or oppose high school start times beginning at 8:30am or later in your district?': 52% Support, 28% Oppose, and 20% Not sure. Democratic voters' responses: ' 67% Support, 14% Oppose, and 19% Not sure. Republican voters' responses: 39% Support, 39% Oppose, and 22% Not sure.

Likely voters' responses to 'Do you support or oppose high school start times beginning at 8:30am or later in your district?': 52% Support, 28% Oppose, and 20% Not sure. Democratic voters' responses: ' 67% Support, 14% Oppose, and 19% Not sure. Republican voters' responses: 39% Support, 39% Oppose, and 22% Not sure.

 Despite the benefits of later start times for older students, larger districts traditionally have a tiered start time system where high school students start earliest, followed by middle schoolers, then elementary students. Evidence suggests this may be backward. In 2019 California became the first state to pass legislation requiring high school start times of 8:30 a.m. or later. An article in the Missouri Independent covered other states’ struggles to pass any moving legislation, despite mounting evidence of the benefits.

This analysis is based on data from the August 2024 SLU/YouGov poll and reflects the opinion of the author.