Recently, I've heard a lot of debate about whether schools potentially delaying start times. My high school recently pushed back its start time by thirty minutes. According to students, teachers and many news articles, those thirty minutes have made a huge difference. Students are performing better academically and functioning better in and out of the classroom. If it's showing a noticeable improvement in students, why aren't all schools participating in this?

I am definitely an advocate for later start times. However, I see a few deterrents to all schools participating in this. First and foremost, I see parents' work schedules being an obstacle. The raising cost of living has forced more and more families to become dual income families. Not all parents have the flexibility to get their children on the bus or to school at a later time.

For public schools, I see budgetary constraints as another roadblock to overcome. If all schools start later, how would the bus routes be spaced out to allow for the same bus to do a route for the high school, middle school and finally the elementary school?

As a young professional, I definitely see a difference in later start times. Even a 9 A.M. start for work makes such a difference in the morning. Even before I get to the office, I see an increase in my productivity. I'm finally able to get a lot of things taken care of in the morning.

For most, thirty minutes might not seem like a lot of time, but for students, it's making a huge difference.