The editorial represents the opinion of the Editorial Board, composed of the editors of all the sections of the X-Ray. After the Editorial Board discusses current issues at length, the Editors-in-Chief write the editorial so that it reflects the official opinion of the X-Ray staff.

On Feb. 6, last year, bill HB2951 was introduced by Representative Laura Faver Dias. The bill, if enacted, would amend the school code to prohibit “public high school[s] from having a start time earlier than 8:45 a.m.” 

For some, this would be beneficial, and for others, it would be difficult to adjust to. Considering that, according to the CDC, 72.7 percent of high school students did not get enough sleep (eight to ten hours) on school nights, this bill is important to discuss. On one hand, it would allow students to wake up earlier and possibly get more sleep. It would decrease the amount of fatigue students feel, in turn increasing focus and engagement.  

On the other hand, it would make students’ schedules involving extracurriculars all the more complicated. For those involved in after-school sports, practice would end around six instead of five. Away games and meets would start and end later. For students in clubs, the effect would be similar. All of this would decrease the amount of time left for students to complete homework, spend time with family and have hobbies. 

Overall, there are clear pros and cons to implementing bill HB2951. Those determining the fate of the bill should take into consideration the sleep teenagers need, as well as the valuable time students need for homework, family, interests and hobbies. Whether the bill is passed or not, there will be downsides and upsides; the main thing we can do is mitigate those downsides and adapt.