A team of sleep specialists is partnering with Virginia's Fairfax County Public Schools to develop a plan to delay the start time for high schools.
Children's National Medical Center says its sleep medicine division has been contracted by the county school board.
The doctors will brainstorm with parents and school officials about how best to move the high school start time to 8 a.m. or later. Nearly all county public schools currently start at 7:20 a.m.
In making their determination, the team will look at crash rates, depression and school performance.
The doctors will also hold town hall and community meetings to encourage discussion and suggestions, review other school districts that have delayed their start times and open an online portal to provide updates and allow for community feedback.
The goal is to ensure that students get enough hours of sleep at night.
