HOUSE MEMORIAL 56

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Joy Garratt

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY HIGH SCHOOL START TIMES AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON A STATUTORY HIGH SCHOOL START TIME.

 

     WHEREAS, the federal centers for disease control and prevention and the American academy of sleep medicine recommend that adolescents aged thirteen to eighteen should receive eight to ten hours of sleep per night; and

     WHEREAS, during development, adolescents' natural sleep pattern causes them to become tired later in the night, creating a need to sleep later in the morning; and

     WHEREAS, the national center for education statistics reports that eighty-two percent of high schools begin before 8:30 a.m., and forty-two percent begin before 8:00 a.m.; and

     WHEREAS, a recent poll conducted by the national sleep foundation found that sixty percent of children under eighteen reported feeling tired during the day, and fifteen percent of children under eighteen reported falling asleep at school at some point during the year; and

     WHEREAS, teenagers who receive the appropriate amount of sleep have better grades, school attendance and fewer accidents while driving; and

     WHEREAS, the American academy of pediatrics recommends that high schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later to ensure teenagers receive the recommended amount of sleep; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature has shown an interest in increasing instructional time, which may cause school districts to shift the start times of high schools to be earlier in the day; and

     WHEREAS, the California state legislature recently passed legislation mandating that high schools start after 8:30 a.m.; and

     WHEREAS, delaying high school start times may create logistical challenges for school districts, including issues with transportation and extracurricular activities that take place before the school day, suggesting that further study of high school start times may be necessary before a statute is enacted;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee be requested to study high school start times and make recommendations on enacting a statutory high school start time; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee be requested to work with high school students, the public education department and staff from New Mexico school districts and charter schools to develop recommendations on a statutory high school start time; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee be requested to publish a report of its research and recommendations by December 31, 2023; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the legislative education study committee and the secretary of public education.

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