- Valley View News
California School Times Could Change
GLENDALE, CA – California high school and middle school students could get a later start to the school day. A proposed bill that aims to change school start times was recently passed by the state senate.
The bill says high school classes can’t start before 8:30 a.m. and middle school classes can’t start before 8:00 a.m. Supporters say it would help students get more sleep and curve the issue of childhood sleep deprivation. Opponents say the change would hurt extracurricular activities. They believe school times should be decided by the individual districts instead.
Anaya Casillas, a student at G-H-S, says she would enjoy the time change but she also thinks it would negatively affect other students and parents. Casillas says schedule adjustments would have to be made by both the students and their parents.
At Glendale High School, dozens of students arrive at school by 6:45 a.m. for their 0 period music class. Amy Rangel, Music Director at Glendale High, says she believes her classes would be affected if the bill is passed. Rangel says she hopes there could be some leeway for early morning elective classes but if not, then the school will find a way to work around it.
In 2018, former Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill. The current bill is now pending final approval from Governor Newsom. If Governor Newsom does sign the bill, the new law would go into effect in the 2022 school year.
By, Veronica Mireles
With Contributions by, KTLA, ABC7 Eyewitness News
Photos: Jessica Gow, TT
Audio: Veronica Mireles
EDUCATE YOURSELF
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