Ok to Hit Snooze? NJ High Schools Might Get Later Start Time

Arguably one of the hardest parts of high school is waking up in the morning. Hitting the snooze button for that sweet extra five minutes is a dangerous game to play. You blink, and all of a sudden you've missed the bus, or first period has already started!

Well according to ABC 7 New York, the morning school rush might get a littler easier, with a new bill that's proposing a later start time for NJ high schools.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, on average, NJ high schools begin classes at 7:51 a.m.,compared to the national average of 8:00. If the bill is passed, it would require high schools to begin classes no later than 8:30 a.m by the 2024-2025 school year.

So an extra 30 minutes! Might not seem like a lot, but it can actually make a huge difference, especially since in the last two years, child mental health has been on a decline amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which in turn, negatively affects a student's ability to learn.

The bill is co-sponsored by New Jersey legislators Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senator Vin Gopal, who are tackling the issue of worsening mental health among high school students. Especially since a recent study found that teens who start school earlier the 8:30 in the morning are at a higher risk for developing depression and anxiety.

"Sleep is fundamental to students' mental and physical well-being," Gopal said. "Ensuring students are getting enough rest is an important first step toward addressing the alarming rise in student mental health issues we're seeing in New Jersey."

Where was this bill when I was in school?!

Check out the video by ABC 7 below!