Why More Sleep Could Help Kids Do Better in School and Life

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January 5, 2018

Most U.S. middle and high schools start at 8:00 a.m. or earlier. This forces teens out of bed hours before their biological clocks tell them they're ready. One in five teens regularly falls asleep in class. Sleep-deprived teens suffer academically. And teen sleep loss contributes to many of the mental health problems that skyrocket in adolescents.

Delaying school start times could help address these issues, says RAND's Wendy Troxel. Moreover, RAND research finds that delaying start times could boost the U.S. economy by increasing students' academic performance and potential lifetime earnings.

Featured Speaker

Wendy Troxel, Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist, RAND Corporation

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