As of October 12th, California Governor Gavin Newsom passed a law mandating the new late start for most schools throughout California. This law is also known as Senate Bill No. 328 and goes into effect in 2022.

According to this new law, middle schools are forbidden to start before 8:00 AM, while high schools must start after 8:30 AM. The law does not include zero periods. 

This law will enforce beneficial changes in mental health and well being for both students and staff by allowing them to get the recommended amount of sleep. 

Schools must adopt this change before July 1, 2022 which is considered a convenience for the schools subject to this mandate. “Importantly, the law allows three years for schools and school districts to plan and implement these changes,” said Newsom. 

Many are outraged about the inequality of sleeping schedules between incoming freshmen and current high school students. 

With a new later start to the school day, it will also change the time students are released from school. This factor is where most of the controversy comes into play because it will most likely interfere with many parents’ schedules.

Aside from the concerns, the late start will enforce a very positive and evident change in the mental state of many students. “The science shows that teenage students who start their day later increase their academic performance, attendance, and overall health,” said Newsom. 

Statistics from this year have proven that the average teenager gets around 7 hours of sleep, when ideally they should be at a minimum of 9 hours. With sleep deprivation comes the possible side effects of anxiety, depression, excessive stress, and defective motor skills.

This data played a large role in the forming of this long awaited bill, as it has been known that the body’s circadian rhythm in adolescent years is set to sleep later and wake up earlier.

With the recent uprise of this news in mainstream media, students are anticipating the results of which schools will be affected by SB 328.