Author | Lightnews

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · 9h

How can sleep professionals help advocate for later school start times for adolescents? In this podcast the Mayo Clinic features a sleep specialist who was successful in his efforts. #startschoollater #sleeppeeps youtu.be/AtFHEwgogrM?...

Advocating for school start times: S7-Ep2

YouTube video by Mayo Clinic

youtu.be

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · 2d

Excited that Start School Later will be attending APHA’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo (Nov 2-5 in Washington DC) for the first time & connecting w/others interested in adolescent health, sleep & #schoolhealth! #APHA2025 #PublicHealth #startschoollater #sleeppeeps #teensleep www.startschoollater.net

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Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · 4d

It's been over a decade since this school system "fixed" high school start times and promised to do the same for middle schools. Shameful.
#startschoollater #sleepmatters www.ffxnow.com/2025/10/29/f...

FCPS leaders vote to delay changes to middle school start times | FFXnow

The Fairfax County School Board voted last week to delay consideration of new middle school start times in order to focus on ongoing school boundary adjustments and identify an option that won’t affec...

www.ffxnow.com

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Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · 10d

Teenagers who don't get enough sleep or get interrupted sleep on school nights are at greater risk pf suicide, new study of 8500+ adolescents finds
#startschoollater #sleeppeeps
neurosciencenews.com/sleep-teen-s...

Lack of Sleep in Teens Linked to Higher Suicide Risk - Neuroscience News

Teenagers who sleep less or experience frequent night awakenings are significantly more likely to attempt suicide later in adolescence, according to a major longitudinal study.

neurosciencenews.com

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · 18d

I’m proud to have been part of this change alongside Beth Malow, and to have this opportunity, thanks to Braver Angels’ Citizen-Led Solutions initiative, to help tell this story. #startschoollater #sleeppeeps open.substack.com/pub/terrazip...

Braver Angels + Start School Later: A Case Study in Delaying School Start Times

How one Tennessee community used civil discourse and sleep science to overcome fear and division—and make mornings more humane

open.substack.com

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · 19d

In Malaysia, young people often have to wake up at 6am or earlier to prepare for school, putting them at risk for sleep and mental health disorders. It is time to reimagine school schedules in ways that reflect both science and compassion.
#startschoollater www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/lei...

Biology vs the bell: rethinking school start times

As young people's tendency to sleep late is actually influenced by biological factors, Malaysia's early schooling hours might be detrimental to their well-being.

www.freemalaysiatoday.com

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Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · 21d

Spir Efterskole has recently updated the day's start times to "accommodate teenagers' sleep patterns." The school website explains that students won't be woken up until 8:45 am, with lessons not starting until 10:20 am
#startschoollater
www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/8610...

Denmark's Princess Josephine, 14, very surprising daily routine at prestigious boarding school revealed

Princess Josephine's new school have a rather surprising daily routine - find out all the details about the royal's new lifestyle

www.hellomagazine.com

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · 24d

This NY district found a way to follow the research on what's best for students by combining community feedback w/creative thinking, flexibility & will to change #startschoollater #ItCANbedone #sleeppeeps spectrumlocalnews.com/section/acro...

Fairport CSD releases details of plan to shift school start times

The district says the updated schedule will go into effect for all students starting in the 2026 school year.

spectrumlocalnews.com

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Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · 28d

Report On How Stockholm Schools View Later Start Times For School Day | The National Tribune www.nationaltribune.com.au/report-on-ho... #startschoollater

Report On How Stockholm Schools View Later Start Times For School Day

Many young people in Sweden do not get enough sleep – a factor that can affect both health and academic performance. A study conducted by the National

www.nationaltribune.com.au

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Sep 19

This is just one of MANY examples adult convenience trumping kids' interests (and common sense)
#startschoollater #collegeboard
youthtoday.org/2025/09/sat-...

SAT start times: A simple systems change

While adolescents are naturally inclined to sleep later than their young peers, the systems they engage in have decided that things should start earlier.

youthtoday.org

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Sep 17

My newest Substack post tackles the topic of cherry-picked evidence. The conversation often goes astray when critics citing isolated studies as proof that later start times “don’t work” ignore the overwhelming body of research showing otherwise.
#startschoollater open.substack.com/pub/terrazip...

Later Isn’t Everything. But Earlier is Harmful

The evidence is clear: delaying the bell may not solve every problem, but ringing it too early creates them

open.substack.com

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Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Sep 12

Superintendent Cole's "pilot program adjusting start times — moving elementary schools to 8 a.m. and high schools to 8:50 a.m. — reflects his willingness to prioritize student well-being and academic success." #LeadersWhoLead #startschoollater www.nola.com/opinions/let...

Letters: Keep moving forward in EBR schools

One year ago, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board ended a grueling superintendent search that left the board and community divided. In the end, they chose Superintendent LaMont Cole

www.nola.com

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Aug 28

The science is settled; the logistics are not. As this piece rightly notes, "the real test now is whether states and districts can solve the bus math and the calendar politics well enough to let teenagers sleep like, well, teenagers." #startschoollater www.mentalfloss.com/culture/educ...

The Surprising Reasons Why School in the U.S. Starts So Early

The data is clear: Students need more sleep before hitting the books. So why can’t they get it?

www.mentalfloss.com

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Aug 21

Key findings from this large-scale analysis revealed that shorter sleep duration on school days independently predicted self-harm both at the time of assessment and three years later.
#startschoollater
bioengineer.org/early-teen-s...

Early Teen Sleep Issues Linked to Increased Risk of Future Self-Harm

Adolescence represents a delicate period marked by profound biological, cognitive, and psychosocial transformations, making it a critical window for mental health interventions. Among the most

bioengineer.org

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Aug 20

It took me a long time to realize our goal as advocates was not to show we were right. Our goal was to create conditions where it was in the interests of decisionmakers to do what was right.
#startschoollater #sleep open.substack.com/pub/terrazip...

A Matter of Interest

Creating Win-Wins for Decisionmakers and Student Sleep

open.substack.com

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Aug 20

The United Federation of Teachers, the largest local union in the USA, calls for the school day to start no earlier than 8 a.m. in New York City
#startschoollater www.nydailynews.com/2025/08/18/n...

New Jersey school district considers later start for some students

One New Jersey school district is considering later start times that would allow some students to start classes at 9 a.m.

www.nydailynews.com

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Jul 30

The changes aim to align with research on teen sleep patterns and reduce before-school childcare needs for some elementary families. #startschoollater www.jsonline.com/story/commun...

A later start for high school? Elmbrook Schools considers starting the day earlier for elementary, later for middle and high schools

The Elmbrook School District is considering changes to school times. Tell us what you think in our poll.

www.jsonline.com

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Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Jul 28

Why Do You Sleep Late As A Teen But Wake Early As You Get Older? Math Has The Answer! | IFLScience #startschoollater www.iflscience.com/why-is-your-...

Why Is Your Sleep Schedule So Messed Up? Math Has The Answer!

a + b + c = zzz

www.iflscience.com

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Jul 23

Another reason to get your Zzzs! news.yale.edu/2025/07/17/y... #startschoollater

For young adults, improving sleep is incentive to drink less

In an innovative study, Yale researchers found a new way to help young adults understand the impacts of alcohol.

news.yale.edu

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Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Jul 16

My newest Substack post ponders the lack of support for organizations that fill a critical gap in social change but whose impact may not be obvious or easy to measure
#startschoollater
terraziporyn.substack.com/p/helping-ch...

Helping Changemakers Make Change

Why We Need a National Nonprofit to Start School Later

terraziporyn.substack.com

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Jul 4

Policy changes, such as delaying school start times, are emphasized by the authors as potentially more effective solutions for improving adolescent sleep health than fiddling around w/light exposure
#startschoollater www.news-medical.net/news/2025070...

Why afternoon sunlight could be keeping your teen awake at night

Bright afternoon and early evening light exposure in adolescents leads to lower melatonin levels and delays circadian rhythms, instead of protecting against evening light effects. Long-term light hist...

www.news-medical.net

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Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Jul 4

For kids' sleep and mental health, schools throughout Estonia will start classes no earlier than 9 am. Still waiting for the USA to wake up!
#startschoollater
news.err.ee/1609736751/s...

School day to start at 9 a.m. or later in Estonia from next September

The Estonian government has approved new changes to the regulations on schools and the educational environment. The most significant change is that from September 2026, the school day will generally s...

news.err.ee

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Jun 26

Yes, moving school schedules to times that allow for adequate sleep can be challenging. But it CAN and MUST be done if we care about the health, safety & wellbeing of our children and communities
#startschoollater #edpolicy www.edweek.org/leadership/s...

School Start Times and Student Sleep, Explained

Pediatricians want school to start later so older students can get more sleep. Districts say that's easier said than done.

www.edweek.org

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Jun 26

Not surprisingly, this new study shows that teens who are evening types ("owls") suffer the most from too-early school start times. #startschoollater #sleeppeeps
www.psypost.org/more-time-in...

More time in bed benefits morning and evening-type teens differently, new study suggests

A new study finds that evening-type teens, who already struggle with depression and irritability, adjust their bedtimes and wake times differently when given longer nights of rest, suggesting that int...

www.psypost.org

Terra Ziporyn @terraziporyn.bsky.social · Jun 18

It doesn’t matter if you tell kids they should get healthy sleep if you create a system in which they can’t.
#startschoollater #edpolicy #sleeppeeps www.nytimes.com/2025/06/18/u...

How Florida’s Attempt to Let Teens Sleep Longer Fell Apart

www.nytimes.com