LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A local state senate member proposed a bill that would require all California school districts to start middle and high school classes no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
Sen. Anthony Portatino, who represents the state's 25th District in Los Angeles County, introduced the bill Monday. In a press release, Portatino cites an American Academy of Pediatrics study as part of the reasoning for his bill.
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In 2014, the APA advised school districts to change start times because studies showed that a lack of sleep was a health risk for teenagers and could affect their academic success.
School districts that adopted the time change found a decrease in absences, better grades and test scores, students paid more attention and teens were less depressed, according to the study.
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California has nearly 3 million middle and high school students.