Make schools in Minnesota start at 9 am or later.

 

This bill's purpose is to help teens be as efficient as they can be at school by getting extra sleep in the morning and

in general. An early school start time most often impacts the sleep schedules of teens.

 

Starting school at a later time for teens is important because it helps their mood, efficiency to stay focused at

school, and the ability to get work done. According to the American Psychological Association, 77% of teens from ages

13-18 in 2021 didn’t get enough sleep. This can be caused by puberty, teens undergoing circadian clocks, and being too

overworked from homework, extracurriculars, etc. The circadian rhythm makes teens struggle to fall asleep at night,

causing the tiredness to be extra intense in the morning.

 

CDC- Centers for Disease Control

Circadian clocks- Your body's internal, 24-hour master clock, located in a part of the brain called the suprachiasmatic

nucleus. It regulates cycles of alertness and sleepiness, body temperature, and hormone release by responding to

external cues like light and dark.

 

If necessary, the Minnesota Department of Education.

 

A school could be fined up to $1,000 for a first-time violation of a "school start time" law and up to $1,500 for a

second or subsequent violation, with each day in violation continuing being considered a separate violation. (Section

17.982 in MN Statutes.)

 

07/17/26