Cooper Bill to Help Schools Choosing to Delay Start Times Passed

July 12, 2026

HARRISBURG – Legislation aimed at helping school districts delay school start times has been included in 2026-27 budget negotiations and will now become law, according to its author, Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland).

“Numerous studies consistently show that students learn more effectively when the school day begins at 8:30 a.m. or later. However, school districts shouldn’t have to choose between costly schedule changes and student success,” Cooper said. “This proposal gives districts the flexibility to make that change if they choose, without imposing an unfunded mandate. Strong ideas tend to earn bipartisan support, and I’m pleased this student-focused proposal was included in the final budget package, which was passed with support from both parties.”

The legislation allows school districts the option to start later and use education grants to offset costs related to planning, implementing or operating adjusted schedules. The proposal was originally introduced as House Bill 2152 by Cooper and Rep. Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery) and was unanimously approved by the House Education Committee earlier this year before being incorporated into the final budget package.

The issue of school start times has been studied at the state level. In 2018, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Resolution 417, directing the Joint State Government Commission to examine the topic. The resulting report, Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents: The Case for Delaying Secondary School Start Times, found that insufficient sleep among high school students negatively affects cognitive function, academic performance, graduation rates, attendance and punctuality.


Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives