Dearborn Schools Considers Later Start Time

DEARBORN (WWJ) - Dearborn Schools will experiment with later start times for high school students.

On a trial basis, upperclassmen will be given the option of sleeping in an extra hour in the morning to see if they are more alert for classes and get better grades.

Fordson High School students talking to WWJ Newsradio 950's Ron Dewey said they have a tough time starting up in the early morning.

"You come here, like you're sleeping ... when you come right now it's too early. But 8 o'clock will be better, I think," said one teen.

Said another student, "I function more when I wake up and I go to school ... an hour late, because, I know when we have those late Wednesdays we just function better."

Not everyone is on board.

Some parents, including Amira Sultan, say giving the option to start at 8:25 a.m. instead of 7:20 a.m. would not prepare students for the" real world," where they won't get the option of choosing when to get up.

"You wanna wake 'em up a little early so that they know how it is, how it's gonna be walking up earlier in the future, waking up early to go to work," Sultan said. "They have a little responsibility on themselves."

The district will evaluate the optional start time at the end of the next school year.