Bill > HR0660

This resolution, a formal expression of opinion from the Illinois House of Representatives, strongly encourages all public school districts that serve students in grades 6 through 12 to develop plans for later school start times. This recommendation is based on extensive scientific research, including work by Dr. Mary Carskadon and Dr. Kyla Wahlstrom, which demonstrates that adolescents experience a natural biological shift in their sleep-wake cycles, making it difficult for them to fall asleep early enough for traditional early school start times. Major health organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognize insufficient sleep in teenagers as a significant public health issue linked to various negative outcomes, including mental health problems, substance use, and accidents. The resolution specifically suggests that middle schools (grades 6-8) and high schools (grades 9-12) should begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m., with an acknowledgment that start times closer to 9:00 a.m. offer even greater benefits. It also advises districts to consider implementing these changes when reviewing transportation contracts or bell schedules to ensure fiscal responsibility and operational feasibility, and to view later start times as a component of broader strategies to improve student well-being, academic performance, and safety.

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=660&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HR&SessionID=114&GA=104