Students in Montgomery County, Maryland, may be a bit more alert for their early morning classes next year. The state board of education is letting some teens get an extra forty winks. Students at one or more high schools in the county will be able to choose between starting their day at 7:25 am or 9:15 am. Educators are hoping that students who can sleep in will do better in school.

Without an alarm clock, how late would your kids sleep? Up at dawn! 8 - 9 AM. 9 - 10 AM. 10 - 11 AM. Noon and beyond.

Two years ago, researchers at Brown University proved what lots of parents already know: Teens are not early risers. These sleep studies indicate that kids in their mid to late teens have an internal clock that induces sleepiness later at night, and requires them to sleep later in the morning.

Taking their cue from this research, school officials in Edina, Minnesota, moved start times back from 7:20 am to 8:30 am. They saw an increase in students' grades and a drop in discipline problems.

Students in Montgomery County have their pick of a split schedule. Teens who start their day at 7:25 will get out at 2:10, while those who begin at 9:15 will get out at 4. Those who start and finish early can get to their jobs or care for siblings in the afternoon.

This trend may turn out to be a sleeper: Last June, U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-California) introduced a bill that would grant $25,000 in aid to school districts that move secondary-school start times to 9 a.m. or later.