Celebrating 10 Years...

Ten years ago, two parents – one who had long been advocating for her Maryland school district to delay its unhealthy 7:17 a.m. high school start time, the other concerned about the future of her young children – sat down at a dining room table and created Start School Later. Since that time, dozens of major health, science, and education organizations have publicly endorsed start times for adolescents of 8:30 a.m. or later, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, CDC, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and National PTA.

New research continues to confirm that when school starts later, more teenagers not only get more sleep, but are happier, healthier, and safer. Still run by volunteers, Start School Later today has 138 chapters in 33 U.S. states and on three continents, and is proud to have sparked and supported successful efforts to move hundreds of middle and high schools to healthier hours.

This #GivingTuesday, please consider including Start School Later in your end-of-year giving plans. As a small non-profit working on a shoestring budget, your tax-deductible gift of $25, $50, $100 or more will truly impact the work our volunteers are able to do – from providing guidance to local advocates, to helping school districts implement healthy hours, to educating reporters and communities on the public health benefits of later school start times.

Giving Tuesday 2021

Team Members