Should schools start later in the winter? Starting school at later hours may be beneficial for more sleep and beneficial for avoiding icy roads, but there are many issues about starting later when it comes to scheduling personal life and sports, driving conditions, reduced daylight and possibly increasing stress on a student with less time for after-school activities and time for homework. 

Due to the fact that sunlight is reduced throughout the day during winter, starting school at later hours would be difficult for students who take part in evening sports like hockey, swim ect. This could result in many coaches having to reschedule practice times and game days. Also, changing schedules would most likely interfere with personal life and activities throughout the day, including sleep schedules. 

Proponents of this idea claim that schools starting later would be beneficial for avoiding icy roads in the morning, especially for students who are able to drive themselves to school, and it would also ensure more safety for bus drivers and other sources of transportation. It is also possible that starting school later would give students a better sleep schedule and reduce tardiness when school starts, and some also believe that students would be in a better mood and mindset throughout the day. 

Although starting later in the morning is a way to avoid inclement weather conditions on the road, students and bus drivers would still have to worry about the roads in the evening, especially when it gets dark out earlier and harder to see. Also, starting and leaving school later would change lots of transportation schedules, such as the number of students taking the bus home, and/or creating a quicker and easier way to get students home safely, which may be hard if the roads are icy. Because of these changes, costs may be higher for students to use other methods of transportation if they are unable to drive themselves or have a parent pick them up.

There are benefits to starting school later in the winter season, and there are safety hazards that can be avoided by starting later, but looking deeper into schedules and transportation, plus how early it gets dark out, starting at a normal and early time is more beneficial for students and teachers and their daily lives.