Pennsylvania State Representatives Jill Cooper and Tim Briggs introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow school districts to use grant money to implement later start times for middle and high school students, addressing widespread sleep deprivation affecting adolescents across the state.
House Bill 2152, introduced on Jan. 21, 2026, permits secondary schools to access funds from the School Safety and Mental Health Grant Program to offset costs related to implementing later start times. The bill recommends that classes begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m., a schedule aligned with scientific research on adolescent sleep needs.
Understanding the Science Behind Teen Sleep Deprivation
According to data cited by lawmakers, approximately 80 percent of teenagers in the United States are sleep deprived. Dr. Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Pittsburgh who worked with Representative Cooper on the bill, emphasized that teen sleep deprivation stems from biological factors rather than lifestyle choices.
She explained that hormonal changes during puberty cause teenagers' brains to naturally fall asleep later and wake up later, according to CBS News.
The legislation allows school districts to voluntarily adopt later start times rather than mandating a statewide change. This approach gives local school boards flexibility to decide whether later start times fit their community's needs while providing financial resources to help with the transition.
Many Pennsylvania secondary schools currently begin classes before the recommended 8:30 a.m. start time, with most districts starting between 7:30 a.m. and 7:59 a.m. The early schedules conflict with research showing that teenagers require eight to ten hours of sleep each night for optimal academic performance, physical health, and emotional well-being.
Sleep deprivation among adolescents has been linked to numerous negative outcomes. Dr. Fong-Isariyawongse noted that insufficient sleep impacts academic performance, grades, grade point averages, and mental health. Research also connects sleep deprivation to higher rates of car accidents, injuries, substance abuse, and aggressive behaviors among teenagers.
Building on Previous Sleep Research and Legislative Efforts
The grant program would help school districts cover expenses associated with changing school schedules, including modifications to bus routes, adjustments to after-school programs, and other operational changes, WDAC reported.
By tapping into existing School Safety and Mental Health Grant Program funding, the legislation aims to remove financial barriers that might prevent districts from considering later start times.
The proposal builds on previous Pennsylvania legislative efforts to address teen sleep deprivation. In 2018, the state Senate adopted Senate Resolution 417, directing the Joint State Government Commission to study secondary school start times.
The commission's October 2019 report, titled "Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents: A Case for Delaying Secondary School Start Times," recommended that secondary schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later.
Representative Cooper, a Republican from Westmoreland County, and Representative Briggs, a Democrat from Montgomery County, are leading the bipartisan effort. The bill has been referred to the House Education Committee for consideration, as per legiscan.
