“This makes a big statement to children, parents, and the education community that more and more legislators are using sound and definitive research to put the best interests of our students first.  School districts around the country that have moved teenage school start times later have seen measurable, positive results for student achievement and student public health.  I am very grateful to the Assembly Education Committee for making its decision on this indisputable data,” expressed Portantino.

“On behalf of California’s students, we appreciate the committee’s support of this critical bill, which prioritizes student well-being by ensuring healthy start times, said Lisa Lewis, co-chair, Start School Later California, which co-sponsored the bill. Dr. Irena Keller, who also co-chairs the organization, added: “These start times are backed by decades of research and will benefit our students, our communities, and our state.”

The California State PTA Legislative Advocate, Carol Kocivar, explained, “The research is clear: Later school start times improve the health, safety, and academic success of students.”

“Too many of our schools have started at times we know to be detrimental to our kids’ health,” said Joy Wake, coordinator of the High School Parent Engagement Group in the San Juan Unified School District. “We are grateful for the progress on SB 328, which recognizes that school start times are a statewide public health issue.”

SB 328 is supported by The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, California Federation of Teachers, California Sleep Society, California State PTA, Children’s Hospital Boston, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, East Area Progressive Democrats, Educate. Advocate, Fresno Unified School District, High School Parent Engagement Group, Keck Hospital of USC, Los Angeles County Office of Education, Loyola University Maryland, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, Manhattan Beach Unified School District, Pasadena Unified School District, Stanford University School of Medicine, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Stony Brook Medicine Program of Public Health, South Pasadena Unified School District,  University of Washington – Department of Biology, and numerous individuals.

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Sen. Portantino represents nearly 930,000 people in the 25th Senate District, which includes Altadena, Atwater Village, Bradbury, Burbank, Claremont, Duarte, Glendale, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Lake View Terrace, La Verne, Los Feliz, Monrovia, Montrose, Pasadena, San Dimas, San Marino, Shadow Hills, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Sunland-Tujunga, and Upland.

Start School Later California is affiliated with Start School Later, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization working to ensure school start times are compatible with health, safety, education, and equity.