Study Shows California's Later School Start Times Improve Student Sleep, Mental Health, and Academic Scores

A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research indicates that California's mandate for later school start times for middle and high schools has led to students sleeping more, reporting better mental health, and achieving higher math and English scores. The law, enacted in 2022, requires most middle schools to start no earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m.