Back to school: Why kids sleep patterns are at odds with school start time

sleeping woman
Do you know how much sleep you need?
File | Wikimedia Commons

It's time for another school year to begin and for many parents that means another year trying to get your teenager up on time to catch the bus.

You're not the only one with this problem, and it's not necessarily the teenager's fault.

Earlier this month the Centers for Disease Control said most high schools and middle schools are starting the school day too early. And too-early start times can keep students from getting the sleep they need for health, safety, and academic success, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

MPR News editor Mike Mulcahy leads a discussion about the science of sleep - what does the research tell us about how much sleep kids need and what can happen if they don't get enough?

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