LETTER: Nevada school kids would benefit from later start times

There is a 25-year body of evidence to support that changing high school to later start times will improve a multitude of important scholastic metrics. Research reveals benefits in attendance rates, grade-point average and test scores while causing decreases in depression and drop-out rates.

Biological rhythms shift in puberty and adolescents can not easily fall asleep at 8 p.m. to achieve the 8½ to 9½ hours of sleep needed in order to attend school starting at 7 a.m. Teens are not being lazy — there are innate biological factors in play. Drowsiness and fatigue lead to increased car accidents, irritability and poor attention and focus.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and the American Psychological Association all support later school start times. Ignoring what we have learned over the past quarter century and continuing to have early start times for high schools is, in my opinion, educational malpractice.

I urge our legislators and educators to do what is right for our young people and change to more appropriate start times.