The schools who did switch the expenses reduced by 20%, transportation would reduce also by 20%, and the average district could have saving of 5.43% total budget. That means the average cost, per student, is about $700. Though some people say that four days in a school week will help students in certain classes especially in math, this test only worked on 4th and 5th graders. Webster County, Kentucky moved their school district to a 4-day week in 2003. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less time to participate in extracurricular activities. It may eliminate common holidays, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, from the schedule. The most popular is a 32-hour work week, which means people work 8 hours per day, 4 hours in a week. Shortening the school day can give kids and teens more time for movement, brain breaks, and other activities that have been shown to improve learning outcomes, among other benefits.. With more room to move and less worry about following the rules in class, kids can be better equipped to focus when needed. configuration, but nine districts were actually spending more. According to the findings, relocating some math classes to the morning and other subjects, such as English, to the afternoon might result in an increase in students GPAs and test outcomes. It is important to consider all of the factors before making a decision. Some districts take just one week off at Christmas instead of two weeks because of these conflicts. Children have more time to participate in other activities that help them learn more. This has been a hot topic especially the states that dont have as large of an economy. Saving on utilities school buses, and long term building wear and tear. Four day school weeks are becoming a necessity for some rural school districts that lack funding. After 12 hours of being away from home, students struggle to find time to study during the 4-day school week. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. manageable in a myriad of ways. The Rochester City Council established the Extended Learning Time initiative as part of Rochesters ongoing commitment to education. It is also good for teachers and the whole school. Some school districts have reported saving It also means that students face more daily seat time, in exchange for a 3-day weekend which may not materialize with their after-school commitments. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less . Spread the loveAfrican Africans have a long history of being mistreated in the United States, starting with slavery. The trade-off for a shorter week is a longer school day. These 300 would have to find some alternative to school on Fridays if the Moniteau County R-1 School Districts schedule changed from a five day week to a four day week. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. School administration, associates with principal office also went down. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days. 1. It changes the holiday schedules for the school district. Students in the third through sixth grades have improved their ACT scores, according to studies. by elenam112 states This means the school would be open longer, resulting in larger electrical and heating bills. Schools would need to stay open later at night for after school activities and stay open early in the morning for students who are dropped off early. Spread the loveTo be twice-exceptional is to be exceptionally gifted in some academic aspects while being below average compared to peers in other aspects. It is possible that children will be better prepared to concentrate when it matters because they will have more opportunities to move around and avoid being distracted by classroom rules. Students attending a 4-day school schedule may have requirements for their education that fall outside of the normal work schedule for their parents. Shorter work weeks can improve employment productivity and provide families with more meaningful time together. The Peach County School District in Georgia saw that their graduation rates slowly increased year after year when they switched to a 4-day school week. Easier to recruit employees. It can also be difficult to monitor, as students may be able to find ways to sneak in a recess break even when they are supposed to be punished. In the Article by Lisa Lewis, it also talks about how delaying school by 1 hour produces the same benefit as shrinking class size by one-third or replacing a teacher in the 50th percentile of effectiveness with one in the 84th percentile.(Lewis). Getting to school on-time or making it out for the bus is a constant battle. That reorganization, though, and the underlying effort, will have much to do with reviving the American education system, and reviving a national love of learning. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. Examining the pros and cons of year-round school gives insight into why some education leaders push for its adoption while others argue for sticking to the traditional 10-month schedule. Money is saved on that day because they don't have to run lights, heater or AC. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. Lets take a look at some proof. From the moment you walk into the second you walk out. The kids groan, complain about getting out of bed, and struggle to get through the morning routine. Potential for juvenile crime to increase. Sometimes, schools are forced to travel during the school week to play some games or attend certain events. Some educators believe that extending the school day until 5:00 p.m. is the answer. The majority of these are found in the western United States, including Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Oklahoma, Thompson said. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. Year-round education (YRE) is being considered or adopted by some districts. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. (Solution). Year round schools, can actually benefit students in the long run. She studies hard, does her research and assignments, and goes to class every single day. You should approach these strategies with your childs teacher instead of punishing him or her. Find out about families that swap a shorter summer break for learning time that's more continuous. districts think they will save tons of money by cutting operational costs on Data from the National Association of Year-Round Education . Students in a 4-day school week are packing 180 days into a condensed 145-day schedule. After physical activity, children with or without ADHD appear to perform better at attention, memory, and mood. They found out that seven school districts saved money under the new Many say that the four day school week is good for students. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. There is no one answer to this question as every disabled students experience is unique. They question the value of a continuous . Extending the school year may help make teaching a full-time, more lucrative profession for educators if year-round schools can cut costs through . About 20% of the states school districts incorporate a 4-day schedule of some kind. In order to squeeze the regular five-day workload into four days, it would necessitate the closure of vital services on that additional day and the lengthening of working days on the other days. If the schools made 40 minute periods, the students could learn just as much as they would in a 50 minute period.One of the biggest benefits of this system is the financial savings. A low income school in New Haven, Connecticut started the new year telling students they would be attending school until 4:15 P.M. four days a week. Lets face it our best school memories arent from tests or pop quizzes. But others are worried about when kids should be in school. Granby School District in Colorado shifted to a 4-day schedule for their 1,100 students. Along with giving kids more time to concentrate on critical activities, a shortened school day would also provide pupils with more opportunity to relax. This creates challenges for families that range from transportation to daycare and could make it difficult for parents to be fully involved with their childs education. In many cases, it is in the best interests of students to reduce costs and have minimal impact on instruction. Does time of day affect student learning? However, these basics vary, depending on a company's policy. Traditional vs. Every community has their own unique requirements that must be addressed by school scheduling. To see how shorter school days hurt both teachers and students, we need to look at a major structural change in education. Imagine a school year that gave the students one week off after every quarter and every Friday off. To be competitive in a global market, students need to be exposed to a wide variety of subject matter. Here are some additional key points to think about when looking at the pros and cons of a 4-day school week. 1. Schools across the country offer extended learning hours. If the school days are shortened, then students will not be able to learn enough because of the short school day. Staying at school for the majority of the day isn't allowing me . The Agrarian calendar is rooted in the past. There is no one answer to this question as it can depend on individual circumstances. This extra hour can make the day pretty long especially for younger students, which can often lead to a loss of focus later in the day. Better sleep: Delayed start time could help teens sleep during . It starts too early, ends too late, and occurs far too often. Adds flexibility to teacher's schedules. Also, there have been studies that found that special populations do not thrive under this configuration. That means one of the biggest expenses for the district is immediately cut by 20%. Going to the 4-day schedule can create scheduling conflicts with other districts, particularly with sporting events, performances, and groups like 4-H. A change in schedule is an adjustment for school officials, students and families. This occurs because a large number of students are moving around the school campus. He goes on to say that in order to realize that level of savings, schools must severely limit transportation for activities or programs not conducted on regular school days. The only students who actually get to benefit from the 4-day school week are those that do not have any extra-curricular activities in which they are involved. Does precision really make a program successful? Custer School District, in rural South Dakota, believed they could save $70,000 with a 4-day school week. These actions often negate the benefits of the 3-day weekend because it really isnt a true 3-day weekend. Too Early to Tell That means half of parents will enjoy the alternative school schedule and half will hate it. Despite the fact that a few studies have recently been published, there is no significant research on the four-day school week. Out of a budget of $5.5 million, they saved $206,000. The class periods would probably be over an hour long but longer school days is a must if you for sure have four day weeks. This could be especially true for students who are struggling in a particular subject or for students who have a lot of homework. Why shorter school days are better for teachers? That also makes scheduling problematic for many families. The capital, insurance, maintenance, and administrative costs remain relatively constant. It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. Advantage: More time for other subjects. There are a few potential drawbacks to shorter school days. First and foremost, an extended school day would provide students with extra learning time. Over the course of a 2-year period on this alternative schedule, they reported up to a 20% increase in student attendance. Many companies have found that when workers are able to work a schedule which suits their needs, letting them work how they like, then their workers are more productive. That reduces the effective time they would have for homework once they actually make it home. 1. This leads to added costs that some families, living paycheck to paycheck, may not be able to afford. Some school districts, particularly those that are in regions of the U.S. where snowfall creates a handful of cancellations each year, find that they are forced to reduce, if not eliminate, certain holidays or vacations. Accidents, absences, and absences all fall on the decline, and students academic performance rises. His conclusion was that the best way to solve poverty was to educate the children in public schools. Why should school weeks be shorter? In 1995, 84 school districts were studied that had already implemented a 4-day school week. The final class ends 1-2 hours before the work day ends for most parents. Programs like student tutoring or sports, teacher/parent meetings, staff development, and building maintenance still happen on the fifth day, which negates many of the cost-savings opportunities that the 4-day schedule appears to offer. If school doesnt get out until 4pm, then the student makes it home at 5pm. Childrens schooldays should be around 8 hours long, and they should be school-aged all year. We must ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn by improving the effectiveness of our schools and ensuring that all children have access to them. This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and. Well, at least initially. It can help teachers and students better manage the process of learning. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. A story on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's website said: Many schools are, in fact, offering year-round services now to accommodate the changing needs of their communities. They can supervise their children at the bus stop in rural districts as well. It would also be beneficial to reduce the week in order to promote activity participation. When implemented, however, 1st graders do just as well as teens with the expanded schedule and 3-day weekend. The school districts in New Mexico are one of the best examples of this benefit. The Trump Administrations Vindictive Attack On Federal Workers: The Shutdown Of The Office Of Special Counsel, Michigan State University College Of Law: A Top Law School, Why Union Safe Company Is The Best Choice For Protecting Your Home Or Business, The Life Of John Laurens: A Patriot Lawyer And Army Officer. Their child is at home while they are at work, which is problematic for parents of younger children. So what are the pros and cons of 4-day school weeks? That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. flexibility to teachers schedules and as a result, makes their jobs more Kids that go to schools with the 4-day week are often happier, stay happy throughout the school year, and look forward to going to school each day. In the United States, about 50% of all companies are either offering or thinking about offering a 4-day workweek for their workers. If schools only had one day off per week, millions of dollars would be saved. Children have a six-week summer break and ten days of off every 45 days of class. Students are still getting the same amount of instruction in terms of minutes, just in a shorter number of days. NEA Today: A 9 to 5 School Day: Are Longer Hours Better for Students and Educators? (Question). Shorter school days that start later in the day could alleviate this problem, promoting healthy habits and the many benefits that go with a solid sleep routine. Eleven states set the minimum number of instructional days between 160 and 179 days, and two states set the minimum above 180 days (Kansas and Ohio). four-day week across 16 school districts. Taking only one class is practically a . Teachers can use more time in the day to go on field trips or expand content areas. During class time, young kids who are too exhausted to concentrate or perform well may experience tiredness or fall asleep. 3. Students will have extra time outside of school to devote to other essential elements of their life as a result of this change. Teacher time will be increased when the school day is extended, allowing them to spend more time with pupils and to concentrate on problem areas and more challenging content. Christmas and Spring holiday weeks may be extended as well. Working a couple of hours after school gains experience and disposable income. Home Pros and Cons 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week. When teachers are more effective and efficient, student performance follows a similar pattern. Suffolk Public Schools went with a 7:25 am start time for their district and are saving almost $700,000 per year. If so, keep reading. Having students to fit 5 days' worth of classroom time into 4 days would make for a tiring schedule, where many of the younger school children would find it very difficult to focus on their study for such long periods.