Muncie superintendent pushes for later start time

Delaware Community Schools Superintendent Steve Hall wants to push the start time for secondary students back to 8:40 a.m. A recent survey by the school found 71 percent of responding parents favored the change.

Hall tells The Star Press he unsuccessfully tried to change the start time six years ago. But since then, more studies have shown that students function better with 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep, which most don't get.

The National Sleep Foundation says schools or districts in 19 states have pushed back their start times, and more than 100 school districts in another 17 states are considering such a move.