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Transitioning to Recommended
School Start Times
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Websites/Articles
This is a website devoted to educating parents, educators, and school administrators on the relationship between school start times, sleep, and overall health for adolescents. This website seeks to raise awareness of this issue while helping to implement change.
A March 2026 JAMA study found that insufficient sleep among U.S. high school students rose from 68.9% in 2007 to 76.8% in 2023, with more teens sleeping 5 hours or less per night — increasing risks for depression, poorer academics, and other health concerns. The authors call for systems-level solutions, including high schools starting at 8:30 a.m. or later and reducing nighttime digital media use.
Recommendations on School Start Times for Adolescents in the Pediatrics Journal 2014 Sept, American Academy of Pediatrics, Adolescent Sleep Working Group, Committee on Adolescence, and Council on School Health
This website gives evidence-based practical advice regarding sleep hygiene, primarily focused on the teen/tween population.
Start School Later - An up-to-date, peer-reviewed summary of research on teen sleep and school start times, plus expert recommendations about ways to build on that research and turn into school policy.
Videos / Audio / Books
(6 min video) This is a fun, animated short video called “What Lack of Sleep Does to the Teenage Mind.” It’s fast-paced, easy to watch with your child/teen, and does a great job explaining why early school mornings are so hard on adolescent brains.
Listen to this 40-minute audio conversation with Dr. Sara Morrow, a Child Psychologist who specializes in sleep, on why sleep is essential for teens and how sleep deprivation impacts their mental health and well-being.
On this episode (34 min) of the Ask Lisa Podcast, journalist and author Lisa L. Lewis joins Dr. Lisa and Reena to discuss why today’s teens are so sleep-deprived and what parents and schools can do to help. The conversation explores research from the Stanford Sleep Study, the impact of tech and school start times, and offers practical, expert-backed strategies to help teens get the rest they need.
(Book) By Matthew Walker, PhD This book explores the science behind sleep and its crucial role in physical and mental well-being. The book covers topics such as the impact of sleep on the immune system, creativity, emotional stability, and overall health. It provides insights on how to improve sleep quality and highlights the importance of prioritizing rest for better cognitive and physical performance.
Educational Materials
A simple guide to why sleep matters and how to get enough — created by Cherry Creek School District with Dr. Lisa Meltzer.
This handout by Dr. Sara Bryn Morrow, Ph.D, Child Psychologist, explains why sleep is a foundational pillar of adolescent mental and physical health, highlighting the biological shift in teens’ sleep cycles during puberty and the research supporting later school start times. It also provides practical, evidence-informed strategies for parents and teens to improve sleep through behavioral routines, environmental adjustments, and thoughtful biochemical supports.
Created by Sleep for Success (sleepforsuccesswestport.com)
Communities for Youth shares age-based sleep recommendations, and offers practical tips for healthy sleep habits. Printable handouts are available in both English and Spanish.
This handout explains why adequate sleep is essential for teens’ health, safety, and success, and supports later school start times to better align with adolescent sleep needs.
This document was created from research conducted on the Cherry Creek School District following their transition to later start times.
Sleep Foundation