Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
02/05/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/05/2026 11:52
Cooper Bill to Support Schools Delaying Start Times Passed by House Panel
Feb. 05, 2026
HARRISBURG - A bill to assist school districts seeking to delay the school day for high school students was passed unanimously by the House Education Committee on Wednesday, according to the bill's author, Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland).
"Studies continue to show teenage students learn more effectively when their school day begins at 8:30 a.m. or later. Knowing that such a change can cause a long and expensive re-write of school schedules, I set out to draft legislation that helps school districts make the change if they choose, but certainly not create an unfunded mandate," Cooper said. "The committee's unanimous support validates that this calculated approach is exactly what school districts want."
House Bill 2152 allows school districts seeking to change their start times at secondary schools to use funds through Pennsylvania's School Safety and Mental Health Grant Program to alleviate costs associated with the planning, implementation or operation of a later school start time. School districts seeking to delay their start time by 15 minutes or more would be eligible for the grant.
In 2018, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Resolution 417, which directed the Joint State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee to study the topic. Titled Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents: The Case for Delaying Secondary School Start Times, the 104-page report notes that insufficient sleep by high school students impacts school performance in terms of cognitive function and performance, graduation rates, attendance and tardiness.
"Chronic sleep deprivation in teens is associated with increased rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, poor academic performance and even motor vehicle crashes," said Cooper. "Later start times are one of the most effective, evidence-based interventions we have to address these risks. Our bill takes a commonsense practical approach, allowing districts to use existing safety and mental health grants to support grants to implement these changes at their own pace. School districts know their communities and students best."
This bipartisan legislation puts student health, safety and well being first - ensuring our school schedules align with the science of adolescent sleep.
Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
[email protected]
"Studies continue to show teenage students learn more effectively when their school day begins at 8:30 a.m. or later. Knowing that such a change can cause a long and expensive re-write of school schedules, I set out to draft legislation that helps school districts make the change if they choose, but certainly not create an unfunded mandate," Cooper said. "The committee's unanimous support validates that this calculated approach is exactly what school districts want."
House Bill 2152 allows school districts seeking to change their start times at secondary schools to use funds through Pennsylvania's School Safety and Mental Health Grant Program to alleviate costs associated with the planning, implementation or operation of a later school start time. School districts seeking to delay their start time by 15 minutes or more would be eligible for the grant.
In 2018, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Resolution 417, which directed the Joint State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee to study the topic. Titled Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents: The Case for Delaying Secondary School Start Times, the 104-page report notes that insufficient sleep by high school students impacts school performance in terms of cognitive function and performance, graduation rates, attendance and tardiness.
"Chronic sleep deprivation in teens is associated with increased rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, poor academic performance and even motor vehicle crashes," said Cooper. "Later start times are one of the most effective, evidence-based interventions we have to address these risks. Our bill takes a commonsense practical approach, allowing districts to use existing safety and mental health grants to support grants to implement these changes at their own pace. School districts know their communities and students best."
This bipartisan legislation puts student health, safety and well being first - ensuring our school schedules align with the science of adolescent sleep.
Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
[email protected]
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Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus published this content on February 05, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 05, 2026 at 17:52 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]