Later School Start Times for ALL Students: No School Should Start before 8:00 AM

Elementary students need 2-3 hours more sleep than adolescents. This means earlier bed times and less time with parents if elementary schools are going to start at 7:30 AM. Let's not transfer the sleep deprivation problem from adolescents to young children.
There is a real safety concern with our youngest children waiting for a bus in pre-dawn hours every day. For 160 out of the 180 days of the school calendar, sunrise is after 6:30 AM, the new time for many of our elementary kids to catch a bus. For 130 out of the 180 days, sunrise is after 6:45 AM. Our 4-11 year old children will be waiting in the dark almost every single day for their bus.
Currently, most of the after school care of elementary school kids is done by our older, high school children. With this new schedule, these laborers will NOT be available to watch our youngest children. Who is going to step in to watch our children at 2:00 PM? The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that no child under the age of 12 be left at home alone. Let's talk equity -- how is it fair and equitable for families with low income to arrange for childcare for a minimum of three hours every afternoon?