Late start law in California will be beneficial

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Nic Gulizia, Editor

It’s 7:30 in the morning. You wake up, get ready, and head off to school, which begins at 8:30. With the new law passed by Governor Gavin Newsom, all high schools are required to start no earlier than 8:30. In California, school districts have until the 2022-2023 school year to implement this change. This could be positive for all high schoolers who struggle to get the extra sleep needed to function throughout the day.

There are countless pros to beginning school at a later time. Science shows that teenagers who start later increase academic performance, attendance, and overall health, according to California Governor Gavin Newsom. Personally, I feel refreshed when I get the necessary amount of sleep. I have more energy and increased focus during class. With an extra 45 minutes of sleep, high schoolers may be more motivated to show up to class, which in turn will get them better grades.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, sleep disorders in the United States are spreading so fast they have become a public health epidemic. It’s important that teenagers get the proper amount of sleep to be as productive as possible. Starting later will help fulfill that. 

You may ask, why is it so important for teens to get 8-10 hours of sleep a night? The American Academy of Sleep Medicine said that some side effects of sleep deprivation are increased accident risks, injuries, obesity, diabetes, depression, and suicidal thoughts and attempts. 

This could also be why America has such a high obesity rate. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, almost 40% of US adults ages 20+ are obese in America. Sleep deprivation can lead to obesity, which can lead to a shorter life. 

Increased sleep can result in better academic performance, higher attendance, and the overall health of teenagers in America. Would you like that extra hour of sleep?