Groggy teens hoping to grab some extra sleep before school starts each day didn’t win the sympathy of Gov. Jerry Brown who vetoed a bill this week that would have required middle and high schools to start classes no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
Senate Bill 328 had won the support of lawmakers, health groups, educators, parents and others who have concluded that the school day might start too early for middle and high school students.
“This is a one-size-fits-all approach that is opposed by teachers and school boards,” Brown said in a veto message, according to the Los Angeles Times. “Several schools have already moved to later start times. Others prefer beginning the school day earlier. These are the types of decisions best handled in the local community.”
Currently, the average start time for middle and high schools across California is 8:07 a.m.
Supporters point to recent studies that say teens are arriving at school too sleepy and not prepared to concentrate during class lessons. This concept is gaining support from health organizations including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But opponents had argued that even if there are benefits for students to have classes start later, local school boards themselves should be able to determine such policies.
Here are some other education-related news articles from throughout the region for the week ending Sept. 21.
- Amid the growing popularity of Esports, the North American Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) is opening the Esports arena to the high school crowd, creating new opportunities for growth, teamwork, and mentorship. NASEF was started in Orange County through a partnership that includes the Samueli Foundation and UC Irvine.
- Twenty campuses in Orange County have been named among America’s Healthiest Schools after implementing strategies designed to boost nutrition and physical activity for students, families and staff.
- Students in California remain less likely to take out loans to pay for their college education and tend to borrow less money than their peers in most other states, according to a new report.
- Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a slew of new education laws recently, one that will prohibit middle school or high school students who are classified as an English learners from being denied participation in a school’s standard instructional program, including courses required for graduation and college admission.
- Candidates lobbying for vacant seats on the Newport-Mesa Unified school board shared their views on education-related topics during a forum hosted by the Newport Beach Women’s Democratic Club.
- Canyon Rim Elementary third-grader Jake Bonnello was as surprised as any of his classmates when he was recently summoned to the stage by Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait and honored for his contributions to the culture of Canyon Rim. A local business owner even kicked in Angels gear.
- Paularino Elementary School in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District unveiled a newly remodeled library stocked with brand new school furniture courtesy of IKEA.
- The Laguna Beach Unified School District honored Spanish teacher Jason Fritze with the 2018 Spirit of Laguna Award for his unique interactive and engaging teaching practices.
- Researchers released the results from a study on the state of California’s education system including the continued achievement gap compared to other states.
- A professor from Columbia University published a report on California’s need to offer health care and mental health benefits to students.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates or following us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.