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SB 1710

SB 1710 - Under this act, no public high school shall begin mandated instruction for students earlier than 8:30 a.m. This requirement shall be in effect at all school districts statewide beginning with the earliest of the commencement of the 2027-28 school year or the expiration of the school district's existing collective bargaining agreement establishing school day start times. A school district experiencing significant hardship as a result of this requirement may apply for a waiver from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and DESE shall establish a form that districts may use for this purpose. School districts may coordinate with DESE for assistance with redesigning bus routes or adjusting school schedules to implement the later start time. The act establishes the "Missouri Sleep and Education Advisory Task Force" within DESE. The act lists the members of the task force and describes their manner of appointment by individuals including the Commissioner of Education, the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Governor, the President Pro Tem of the Senate, the Senate Minority Floor Leader, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the House Minority Floor Leader. Members of the task force shall serve terms of four years and may be reappointed. The task force shall collect feedback from among the task force membership and education stakeholders across the state regarding best practices for school start times, taking into account impacts of a later start time on student health, school operations and finances, and the local community. Additionally, the task force shall collect data from school districts across the state on changes in student attendance, tardiness, grades, and disciplinary outcomes before and after the implementation of provisions of the act requiring high schools to begin mandated instruction no earlier than 8:30 a.m. Based on this data, the task force may recommend changes to state law and regulations as needed. On or before December thirty-first of each year, the task force shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Joint Committee on Education, the State Board of Education, and the State Board of Health and Senior Services. OLIVIA SHANNON

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tracy McCreery

Missouri bill delays high school start times to 8:30 a.m. minimum to align with adolescent sleep science while establishing task force to study education-sleep connections.

Second Read and Referred S Education Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1710

Legislative bill overview

SB 1710 mandates that Missouri public high schools cannot start instruction before 8:30 a.m. and establishes an advisory task force to study sleep and education issues. The bill aims to align school start times with adolescent sleep science, which research suggests peaks later in the teenage years.

Why is this important

School start times directly affect student health, academic performance, and safety. Studies show that adolescents' circadian rhythms naturally shift later during puberty, and earlier wake times can contribute to chronic sleep deprivation, which impacts grades, attendance, mental health, and driving safety. Implementation costs and logistical challenges for school districts—particularly regarding transportation and scheduling—are significant real-world considerations.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Delaying start times requires restructuring bus routes, transportation schedules, and potentially hiring additional drivers, creating budget pressures on school districts already facing financial constraints
  • Equity concerns: Transportation changes may disproportionately affect rural districts or those with fewer resources, potentially creating unequal implementation across the state
  • Extracurricular and work conflicts: Later school start times compress the school day end time, affecting when sports, clubs, and after-school programs can occur, and may conflict with student employment or family responsibilities
  • Parental childcare logistics: Families relying on school schedules for younger siblings' care or parental work arrangements may face disruption

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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