Schools

Do Michigan Schools Need Later Start Times?

State Supt. Mike Flanagan says he supports a national suggestion to start high school later in the day.

*This article was written by Jessica Nunez.

State Supt. Mike Flanagan says he supports a national suggestion to start high school later in the day.

Anyone with teenage children knows how hard it is to get them out of bed in time for a 7 a.m. start time. But do you think schools should start later to allow them to get more sleep?  

State Superintendent Mike Flanagan thinks so.

He agrees with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who has been touting this idea in recent months, most recently yesterdayon National Public Radio's "The Diane Rehm Show." 

"There's lots of research and common sense that a lot of teens struggle to get up at 6 in the morning to get on the bus or 5:30 in the morning to get on the bus," he said in the interview.

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At Trenton Public Schools, school begins at 8:30 a.m. for elementary students, 8:10 a.m. for middle school students and 7:30 a.m. for high school students.

Classes end at 3:30 p.m. at the elementary schools, 3 p.m. at the middle school and 2:30 p.m. at the high school.

Find out what's happening in Trenton Grosse Ilewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to a release today from the Michigan Department of Education, Flanagan has been encouraging local school districts to adjust their teaching and learning schedules to accommodate the individual learning needs of the students for the past for years. 

The release said he has shared this philosophy on a number of occasions with Secretary Duncan.

“I am encouraged that Secretary Duncan is advocating the change from what has been considered a traditional learning day for students,” Flanagan said. “The Secretary understands this and I am hopeful that schools in Michigan will begin to understand the value, and adopt more flexible instructional schedules for their students. It makes sense.”

Do you think high schools in Michigan should start later?


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