State Senator Anthony Portantino Town Hall Meeting Thursday Will Ask: Do School Days Start Too Early in the Morning?

State Senator Anthony J. Portantino will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting in Pasadena on Thursday, April 13, to discuss a bill he filed intending to adjust the class start time in middle and high schools all over California to 8:30 a.m.

Portantino introduced SB 328 in the California legislature in February to address a growing concern that starting the school day too early is a critical contributor to chronic sleep deprivation among American adolescents.

“Every year, we discuss as parents, educators, and legislatores best practices and interests of the children and education. Well, data is clear: starting the school day later improves the quality of education, health and welfare of our children,” Sen. Portantino said at the time he filed the bill.

Portantino cited a policy statement issued in 2014 by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advising school districts to change the school day start time to no earlier than 8:30 a.m., specifically for middle school and high school students. He said studies have confirmed that insufficient sleep in teenage adolescents poses a public health risk and has an adverse effect on academic success.

The California State Parent-Teachers Association has adopted a Support If Amended position on SB328 and is working with the Senator’s office on addressing concerns.

Thursday’s Town Hall Meeting will be held at the Creveling Lounge at Pasadena City College, located at 1570 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. The meeting will be from 7 to 9 p.m.

Portantino’s office has invited experts who will discuss the benefits and challenges of shifting middle and high school start times later, followed by a Q and A.