Opinion: City’s new school schedule deserves a failing grade

Ignoring research on adolescent sleep and healthy school start times policy recommendations, Baltimore City Public Schools announced its new bell schedules for 2022-2023, which include new school start times for 93 schools to “improve transportation for students who ride yellow buses.” With these times, at least 30 middle and high schools will be starting before 8 a.m. As a sleep researcher and psychologist for over 30 years, these changes concern me deeply. The decision to move bell times means that thousands of BCPSS teenagers will not only be unable to get sufficient sleep or to arrive at school on time ready to learn, but will also put themselves at risk for anxiety, depression, misbehavior, substance abuse and other health consequences.