An Act requiring the Department of Education to conduct a study on school start times.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Education shall conduct a study on the issues, benefits, and options for instituting a later start time to the school day in middle school and high school. The study shall:
(1) consider the recent recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics on the establishment of later school start times;
(2) include an assessment of the health, academic, and safety benefits associated with establishing later start times in middle schools and high schools;
(3) evaluate any potential negative impacts on school districts and families that may be associated with a later start time and consider strategies for addressing potential problems; and
(4) review all available literature and data on the experiences of school districts in the nation that have instituted later start times.
b. The department shall submit a report on the study to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1) that details the findings of the study. The report shall include a recommendation on the advisability of establishing a pilot program to test later school start times in select middle schools and high schools throughout the State that are interested in participating in the program.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved August 10, 2015.