I thought I'd share a bit of what I sent to our petition signers for Start School Later this week:

"Sadly, we've lost a bit of steam, gaining less than 200 signatures from last week.  We are doing quite a bit at Start School Later, from making presentations at local meetings, collaborating with sleep researchers and book authors and responding to interview requests for both print media and radio.  But this is not enough. 

The only way a change of heart like this can happen is if everyone we know is educated on the subject of sleep and the needs of children when determining school schedules.  We plan to go to Washington, DC on the week of March 5, in honor of Sleep Awareness Week, to present our petition.  But, if we don't have at least 5,000 signatures, they will not hear our case.

With only three weeks left, there is no time to lose.  The most effective way to get more signatures is to email five more family, friends and associates about this issue.  They can click http://signon.org/sign/promote-legislation-to?source=s.em.cr&r_by=1525085&mailing_id=2004 to sign our petition.

Another simple, but effective way to increase signatures is to invite five Facebook friends to sign our petition.  Simply post this the petition link (http://signon.org/sign/promote-legislation-to?source=s.em.cr&r_by=1525085&mailing_id=2004) on your Wall Post and tag a few of your friends.  They will be able to see the link, learn about our petition and add their signature.  (To "tag" a friend, simply type @ followed by the first few letters of their name.  Facebook will then recognize and suggest your friends to include on the post).

Every person aged 13 years or older, with a valid email address, is eligible to sign our petition.  If you have anyone in your household that has still not signed the petition, please get them to sign the petition here: http://signon.org/sign/promote-legislation-to?source=s.em.cr&r_by=1525085&mailing_id=2004

We have just over 3,100 signatures.  Let's make it 4,000 by February 16th.  If there is still more you would like to do, check out the links below for how you can get involved.  You can also email me with your contact information if you would like to partner with us.

Thank you for advocating for the health, safety and equity of American children.

Regards,
Maribel Ibrahim
Co-Founder, Start School Later
www.StartSchoolLater.net

Sign our petition: http://signon.org/sign/promote-legislation-to?source=s.em.cr&r_by=1525085&mailing_id=2004

Join our national coalition: http://www.bigtent.com/groups/startschll8r

Listen to our podcast: http://sleepdoctorradio.com/radio-show

Print our flyer: http://www.startschoollater.net/uploads/9/7/9/6/9796500/stop_look_listen.pdf

Take the Race to Nowhere Sleep Challenge: http://www.endtherace.org/sleep-challenge

Find Race to Nowhere Movie Screenings: http://www.racetonowhere.com/screenings

View and sign other local petitions to Start School Later: http://www.startschoollater.net/take-action.html

Maribel Ibrahim, The Frugal Writer, created www.StartSchoolLater.net and is a Co-Founder of Start School Later, a grassroots coalition dedicated to ensuring that the health, safety and equity of children are protected when determining school schedules.  To get involved with Start School Later, sign the national petition and the Anne Arundel County petition to ensure that children do not start school before 8 a.m.