| Background As per Board Policy and Education Code, the length of the school day including starting and ending times shall be fixed by the Governing Board. Current Considerations The Governing Board is considering a proposal to establish the daily start time at LCHS 7-12 at 8:30 a.m. This proposal is born out of three years of discussion and study groups prompted by the American Academy of Pediatrics research first brought to the Governing Board’s attention by parents in 2014. More recently, LCHS 7/8 and 9-12 were accepted as Stanford Challenge Success Schools. Challenge Success works with high performing schools and districts from across the nation to develop and implement research-based strategies that provide kids with the academic, social, and emotional skills needed to succeed now and in the future. Challenge Success collaborates with schools to develop school and classroom policies that encourage students to engage with learning to reach their individual potential and find a more effective path to success, and offers parents the tools they need to raise healthy and motivated kids. One of the changes Challenge Success asks a school to look at is whether its start time is impacting student health and their engagement with learning. In 2016, LCHS students took the Challenge Success survey and the data indicated that LCHS 7-12 students average 6.17 – 7.71 hours of sleep per night (depending on grade level) while research recommends that adolescents get between 9-10 hours of sleep per night. To respond to this health issue, the attached proposal is prepared for Governing Board review. Additional data regarding concerns related to impacts to athletes schedules will also be presented. Finally, survey data on the proposed schedule change will be presented for Board consideration. Financial Implications The change in start end times as stated above does not carry any additional financial implications.
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