Wandering into a classroom barely awake and zoning out of consciousness as a teacher starts a lecture may become less frequent in the Sequoia Union High School District as it studies creating a time before which no school can begin.

With students needing an average of nine hours of sleep but only getting about seven, the Teen Sleep Program began at Menlo-Atherton High School four years ago to educate students of their resting needs. This year, Woodside High began staggering start times with 60 percent of students starting at 9 a.m. Noting research showing positive effects on students with later start times, the Board of Trustees decided to explore starting all its high schools at a later time.

“This is a change with the lowest cost that could have the highest impact on students,” said Trustee Gordon Lewin.

Eighty high schools nationwide now have a later start time, ranging from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., to better meet the sleep needs of teenagers, said Mark Rosekind, founder and president of Alertness Solutions, in an October presentation to the board. After four years of watching these campuses, Rosekind found students got 35 to 60 minutes of additional sleep; teachers reported students were more alert; tardiness for the first period declined; grades, athletic participation and over-all attendance improved; there was a decrease in the rate of illness and depression and a decrease in teen car crashes.

Such results piqued the board’s interest to bring such benefits to the district’s students. Efforts to inform students and change sleep habits are already underway.

Four years ago, Menlo-Atherton began the Teen Sleep Program passing along information to more than 2,300 students. Led by sleep experts William Dement and Rosekind, the program has offered education to students on sleep and their internal clock; performance, drowsy driving and sleep apnea; four parent education sessions and one faculty in-service.

It was recently selected as a Golden Bell recipient from a pool of more than 200 programs by the California School Boards Association.

“We have a deep commitment to providing essential sleep education to our students and to ensuring that our students understand the importance of being well rested,” said M-A Principal Matthew Zito.

As the program progressed, advocacy for a later start time became part of the conversation. Woodside High School debuted the later start time this year. Students at Woodside now have a staggered start time rather than different release times. About 40 percent of students begin at 8 a.m. with the remaining starting at 9 a.m.

Most of the students enrolled in the earlier period are receiving extra help in a certain topic. This period is daily, while the rest of the school day is on a block schedule.

The start time was initiated after Reilly noticed the early release time of most students interfered with the others who stayed behind to get additional help. As a result, those enrolled in the late class often ditched or were late. Those who attended were often distracted by students lingering outside the classroom. The problem coupled with sleep research led school officials to change the schedule.

Teens have a unique internal clock delaying when they feel tired until 11 p.m. or later, according to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Teens need about nine hours of sleep to remain alert but traditionally sleep much less.

Trustee Olivia Martinez noted a later start time could be particularly helpful for students from East Palo Alto who often must get up earlier than others to take public transit to school.

Woodside’s changes were not loved by all and some problems did arise, particularly with traffic and transportation.

Woodside had to rework traffic patterns to pick up and drop off students. A district-wide change could require talks with public transportation officials to ensure students have a way to and from school.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.