She studies hard, does her research and assignments, and goes to class every single day. More than 80% of people in the UK would prefer a four day working week, according to a survey in 2021 by recruitment company Reed. So what are the pros and cons of 4-day school weeks? Obesity, anxiety and stress, as well as lower grades, can all be attributed to a lack of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. 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. Money is saved on that day because they don't have to run lights, heater or AC. Many school districts keep their administrative staff on school grounds all week long, though some allow half to take a Monday off, while the other half takes Friday off. Shifting to this schedule does have certain disadvantages, especially for working parents. Con: School districts across the U.S. are struggling to make ends meet. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. School administration, associates with principal office also went down. There are 21 states that have four-day school districts. A 4 day work week would promote an equal workplace as employees would be able to spend more time with their families and better juggle care and work commitments. Other concerns with early school start times and the resulting insufficient sleep include: Increased likelihood for participating in risk-taking behaviors, such as bullying and fighting. Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Mass., has risen from a Level 5 to a Level 1 after implementing extended learning time. Pro: Education is a priority, and funding should not hold back efforts to provide more effective academic preparation for students. The school districts may operate classes Monday-Thursday on a 4-day week (or Tuesday-Friday in some instances), but they are still operational from an administrative standpoint on the off-day. You still have to go to practice, and dont forget the piles of homework that need done. Longer school days would provide students with more time to focus on core subjects or classes where they need more instruction, which would be a huge benefit. There is no one answer to this question as every disabled students experience is unique. The. We can all agree that school feels like it lasts forever. They also said students can gain more time for fun and still receive an excellent education. Spread the loveThe International Baccalaureate Program is a very intensive pre-college program in which when students get involved, they get college credit. Revisiting Using Edtech for Bullying and Suicide Prevention. Delaying school start times has been shown to have positive outcomes for students and families in overwhelming scientific research. Pros and cons of a four day working week. Better sleep: Delayed start time could help teens sleep during . Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. 1. It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. A local news reporter says thevve also saved substitute teacher costs because teachers don't have to take a day off for appointments (Chiaramonte 2 ). manageable in a myriad of ways. Sacrifices Family Time. Lets face it our best school memories arent from tests or pop quizzes. It is also good for teachers and the whole school. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. 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. Dr. Kelly S. Meier - Updated May 03, 2019, Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education, Explore state by state cost analysis of US colleges in an interactive article, NavajoCode: Unbiased Longer School Days Pros and Cons. One of the biggest concerns of a 4-day school week is the length of seat time that younger students must complete. It takes about 4-years for schools to get these students back on track academically. Shorter school weeks or longer school days are reasonable solutions when there is a shortage of funding, or possible budget cuts coming to the school district. That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. 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. Moving to the 4-day schedule shifts student movement patterns, reducing the number of lost transition minutes. Staying at school for the majority of the day isn't allowing me . Easier to recruit employees. Longer school days may have some positive impact on student achievement, but research on their effects is lacking. Well, for some rural schools across the nation, this has become a reality. Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? According to new research, the four-day week is a popular way for parents and students to spend quality time together. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days. That means one of the biggest expenses for the district is immediately cut by 20%. The school day could be shortened to give children and teenagers more time for movement, brain breaks, and other activities that have been shown to increase learning outcomes. Those that had implemented the alternative scheduling found that student attendance could rise by more than 20. Despite the fact that a few studies have recently been published, there is no significant research on the four-day school week. It's almost the end of the first semester, and realizations are starting to set in. Data from the National Association of Year-Round Education . The very thought of sending kids to school year-round makes some parents cringe. There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on student's math and reading scores. Extending the school year may help make teaching a full-time, more lucrative profession for educators if year-round schools can cut costs through . According to ASCD, many disciplinary issues that students face come from scheduled transitions. A change in schedule is an adjustment for school officials, students and families. It starts too early, ends too late, and occurs far too often. Other popular year-round schedules are the 60-20 and 90-30 calendars, where students are in class for 60 or 90 days with vacations of 20 or 30 days respectively. This is a big con for me, as sacrificing the futures of our most vulnerable students is not worth the trivial benefits of 4-day school weeks. There are a few potential drawbacks to shorter school days. Do 4-day school weeks positively affect student outcomes? In the standard 5-day school week, sports practices occur after school. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to each. 2 Students Should Be Getting More Rest In addition to students having more time to focus on important activities, a shorter school day would give them more time to rest. There are potential savings to food programs and other important areas of infrastructure because the school district is closed 1 additional day each week. To avoid this issue, many school districts have considered shifting to a 4-day school week. In 1995, 84 school districts were studied that had already implemented a 4-day school week. Harvest times were set in the old way and still are when most school calendars are set up, when the United States was a farm country. They found out that seven school districts saved money under the new Companies have been experimenting with shorter work days for at least a decade and, despite announcements that the 40-hour week is dead, there have been mixed results from the experiments. Why shorter school days are better for teachers? This schedule works much better for parents, who often have that working schedule themselves. Black Boys in Crisis: Why Arent They Reading? The four-day school is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the U.S. Home Pros and Cons 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week. Many of these schools are already operating on an alternative schedule because that is what works best for their community. This may not seem like a lot, but when you factor in homework and after-school activities, it can be a lot for a student to handle. Shortening the school day by even an hour or two can allow a district to save dramatically on its utility costs. 4. There are several major pros and cons of a 4-day school week which must be considered by school districts looking to make this kind of change. Some of the pros of year-round schooling include: 1 . Our individualized learning setup at the Tenney School allows us to offer more instruction in a shorter amount of time. Although the final outcome was beneficial the origins of the extended day was not welcomed. 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. Along with giving kids more time to concentrate on critical activities, a shortened school day would also provide pupils with more opportunity to relax. In New Mexico, 18 of the states 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. Teachers will have more leisure time to spend with their family as a result of the reduced school days. The 4-day schedule eliminates one full driving day for the transportation department. Then ask the superintendent of the school district to consider year round school with only four days per week.First, students would not forget what they learned over the long summer. 3. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. Overall, there are pros and cons to shorter school days. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. Other pros and cons exist in the school lunch debate. One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. As a result, learning is less effective due to budget constraints. The Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative has already benefited 19 schools and over 10,000 students. Some research indicates there may be slight academic benefits to extending the school day. Third, shorter days could reduce the amount of time that students spend on the bus or in the car, which would save money and reduce pollution. Saving on utilities school buses, and long term building wear and tear. School Evaluation For Special Education What Parents Need to Know, Effectively Educating Diverse Student Populations: Strategies That Work - Applead Hofu, The Importance Of Sight Words In Early Reading GoGreenva.org, Online Education in Chennai - Birla Brainiacs, Advancing Technology Education in Rural High Schools Across - The Tech Edvocate - VSAY .IN. Thats two hours of lost time for farm chores, homework, or other responsibilities that rural families have more often than urban or suburban families. 6 Ways to Implement a Real Multicultural Education in the Classroom, Understanding Letter Recognition and Its Role in Preliteracy, The Advantages and Limitations of Homeschooling, 7 Ways Technology Is Impacting Modern Education, How Dumbed Down Education Is Creating a National Security Crisis, 21 Inspirational Quotes That Nelson Mandela Made About Education, The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 7: How Digital Age Teachers Can Win Over Parents, The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 6: 8 Ways That Digital Age Teachers Avoid Burning Out, The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 5: The Archetype of a Great Teacher, PISA (The Program for International Student Assessment): Everything You Need to Know, How International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs Work, Globalization: Everything You Need to Know, So You Want to Attend Graduate School: The 411 on Grad School Admissions Tests, 20 Ways to Teach Kids to Take Care of Their Personal Property, 13 Ways to Teach Students Appropriate Mealtime Manners, 20 Strategies to Encourage Students to Take Care of their Personal Property, 14 Strategies to Teach Students Appropriate Mealtime Manners, 22 Strategies to Help Students Who Cannot Fasten Their Own Clothes, Homogeneous Grouping: What You Need to Know, Merit Scholarships: Everything Your Need to Know, The Importance of Mentoring Young African-American Males, 7 Ways That Black Students are Discriminated Against in U.S K-12 Schools, The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 4: How to Create a Culturally Responsive Classroom, 6 Steps to Data-Driven Literacy Instruction, Four Keys to a Modern IT Approach in K-12 Schools. Long summers are known to cause "summer slide," or the decline of academic skills and knowledge over the course of the extended vacation. Changing the Moniteau County R-1 School districts schedule to a four-day week would be detrimental to students safety and involvement in activities. Here are some additional key points to think about when looking at the pros and cons of a 4-day school week. The schedule change also shifted how teachers assigned homework, making it more efficient and focused. 2. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools. The National School Board Association estimates that approximately 135,000 guns are brought to America's 85,000 public schools each day. Although sleep is a huge and major part, it is not the only part. It can help teachers and students better manage the process of learning. configuration, but nine districts were actually spending more. Since students receive dedicated 1:1 teaching for all core subjects, they don't need to bother spending time on topics that aren't on their instructional level. The school day is too long. Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. Students have more time outside of school to focus on other important aspects of their lives. Increase Engagement and Productivity. not just on the weekdays when students were out of school. Many recommend that teens get at least eight hours of sleep to feel well rested and . 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. The 180-day calendar is shorter than that of other industrialized countries, and some schools even find ways to shave days even further. Some school districts shifted to a 4-day week not because of financial needs, but others did so to make it easier to schedule sporting events or after-school activities. (Question). If so, keep reading. . Potential for juvenile crime to increase. According to Adam Urbanski, president of the Rochester Teachers Association, there is no guarantee that popularity will be replicated in other schools. Better Employee Engagement A 4 day week can lead to happier and more committed employees. Massachusetts, a pioneer in extended learning time (ELT), has made significant progress in this field. From the moment you walk into the second you walk out. If you ask the average kid what they think about school, youll get a very honest answer: Its boring. From K-12, it can be difficult for students to stay engaged in the classroom during a 5-day school week. Time of day effects may be induced by variations in the quality of instructors instruction, changes in the learning abilities of students, or differences in student attendance patterns. The current school schedule is a major downgrade from the 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM distance learning schedule. The ability to express oneself via electives can make children happier and more cooperative in the classroom. In the 4-day school week The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. 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. An understandable concern for parents, teachers, and students about the 4-day school week is the extended time required to be at school during the day. over 1 million dollars on utilities, busing, and labor costs. recess has numerous benefits, including assisting students in reducing aggression and improving learning. Most students in the four-day districts80 percent of high school students and 90 percent of elementary studentsspent their "off day" at home. 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. They can explore and discover various hobbies and interests, maintain their stress levels and get more sleep. Kids already spend a very long time each week in the school and away from their family. The kids groan, complain about getting out of bed, and struggle to get through the morning routine. Four day school weeks are becoming a necessity for some rural school districts that lack funding. Students that sit in lecture classrooms retain 10% or less of the information that is presented to them. There are many changes with switching the school days. 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). districts think they will save tons of money by cutting operational costs on Additionally student involvement and safety would suffer. It provides a realistic way for schools to remain open and also has added benefits beyond saving money. I am glad that you asked. It is possible to have a negative impact on some laboratory classes by reducing the number of minutes in class each day. 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. Students will have extra time outside of school to devote to other essential elements of their life as a result of this change. Such as emotional and behavioral problems, violence, depression, alcohol use, impaired cognitive function, etc. Practices for sports are still held on the fifth day, as are teacher conferences, staff development opportunities, and required janitorial work. Four day school weeks have been discussed by many schools, and some schools already have them. With the 4-day schedule, another 1.5 hours is added to their school day, every day. There were also reduced sick days requested by their teaching staff. The majority of these are found in the western United States, including Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Oklahoma, Thompson said. You have a lifespan that is nine years less than people who graduate: Statistically, you may have a shorter lifespan than people who have gone to school and have been empowered. The districts which offer the 4-day work week receive more applications and more qualified applicants than the other school districts. 1. The article Should School Stay Earlier? Certain activities or games should be prohibited (for an indefinite period of time). That also makes scheduling problematic for many families. While state requirements vary on the number of instructional days and hours in the year, the majority of states set the school year at 180 days (30 states). More time to focus on mental health In the typical K-12 schooling model, mental health education is too often shunted aside. Con: A longitudinal study in New Mexico looked at the performance difference in K-3 students from seven different school districts. Many of these districts are small and rural, such as Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. It lists the advantages of the four-day model as: Improved morale and fewer absences: A shorter working week leads to less burnout, making staff happier and more focused in . Rural areas report that their student attendance has increased since switching to the 4-day school week. The most popular is a 32-hour work week, which means people work 8 hours per day, 4 hours in a week. 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. 1. When students are too tired or mentally exhausted to concentrate at the end of the day, the last hour becomes meaningless. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. The University of New Mexico Newsroom: Research Study Yields Unexpected Conclusion About Longer School Years. It is a program for mostly rural and small school districts. Oklahoma Department of Education examined the economic effect of going to a Increases student attendance. The driving force behind the proposal to lengthen the school day is the assertion that more instructional time would yield greater academic gains. For non year-round schools the dropout rate is 5%, which is more than all year-round schools. Spread the loveApplying for admission to professional and graduate schools is no less competitive than college/undergraduate admissions. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Research has shown that in this configuration, students who are low-income, minority, or special needs dont fare too well academically. Colorado has nearly three-quarters of its school districts on a four-day schedule. Each community has unique needs which must be met, so there is the possibility of a 4-day week being useful to some districts, but not others. The organization 4 Day Week Global sponsored the program. There are many financial benefits from a 4 day school week.With only 4 days in a week, that is one less day theschool has to pay for lunches . After 12 hours of being away from home, students struggle to find time to study during the 4-day school week. Your email address will not be published. It is critical to maintain a consistent schedule and not change it on a weekly basis in order to give students the best chance of success. Having well-rested and happy employees can increase their overall work engagement and productivity. How would it sound if school weeks were only four days long and, in doing that, it saved your school money at the same time? There are improvements in the school financially. Increases student attendance. 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. However, disabled students often face additional challenges in accessing education and achieving academic success. The ability to offer a 3-day weekend, every weekend, is a powerful motivator for school districts that are recruiting for quality employees. Games occur in the evening, often on the weekend. Many school districts still operate Monday-Friday, even on a 4-day week. Some school districts have reported saving The challenges of implementing such a schedule for parents, administrators, and even some teachers have caused some Colorado school districts to return to the traditional schedule instead of the alternative 4-day schedule. Long school days, on the other hand, can present some challenges and, at the very least, unsatisfactory outcomes. When I was a teacher, many moons ago, this was a fringe schooling schedule only practiced by rural school districts. Weekend sporting events make it easier to get students to them, especially when they are an away event, because the school day doesnt interfere on a Friday. The average time for school that is scheduled in a 4-day week is either 7:30am-5pm or 8am-5:30pm. I say this because we would have to start. Children have a six-week summer break and ten days of off every 45 days of class. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. This means students in a district with this alternative schedule get out later for the holidays than students on the traditional Monday-Friday schedule. Administrative staff are required to be on-site, sports All of these consequences just because nobody wants to shorten the school day. Staff recruitment is easier with the 4-day school week for school districts. Going to the 4-day schedule can create scheduling conflicts with other districts, particularly with sporting events, performances, and groups like 4-H. Longer school days make no sense when there is so much else we could be doing with our time. Does time of day affect student learning? While small gains were made in reading, math and writing, there were no statistically significant results for children in the areas of receptive language, social skills or vocabulary. Savings on school buses and long-term building wear and tear have also been reported. When making a decision about whether to adopt a shorter school week, it is important for school districts to consider the 4 day school week pros and cons. Students are tired and cranky by the end of the day. If you want to avoid withholding recess as punishment, consider rewarding yourself rather than punishing yourself, such as rewarding yourself with extra recess for good behavior. Cutting that by 20% means a savings of $4 billion, if implemented nationwide. Sara Blackwell teaches Employment Law at University of South Florida in Tampa and she is a published author. It requires longer school days. It may eliminate common holidays, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, from the schedule. 6. Cons of the 4-Day School Week. If a student lives an hour outside of town and have an 8am school bell to meet, then theyre on the bus at 7am. There are a variety of health issues that can be caused by a lack of sleep. 2023 The Black Well Firm. A small portion of the districts cash is saved, but not as much as intangibles. Some schools do not allow recess to be used as punishment, while others may do so on a case-by-case basis. School districts consider shorter school days for several reasons, including saving money and providing students the ability to participate in more extracurricular activities. Du Bois Essay Topics to Write about, Most Interesting Volvo Essay Topics to Write about, is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the U.S. Shorter School Days Are the Way. 2. The program not only saves districts money, but it also allows students to spend more time with their families. How does it impact your success? It would also be beneficial to reduce the week in order to promote activity participation. The school day was originally created to meet the needs of farmers. They argue that playing with classmates helps children develop social skills. Accidents, absences, and absences all fall on the decline, and students academic performance rises. Good for working parents: This would lead to less wraparound care for working . That may mean reducing Spring Break to 2 days instead of having the entire week off. Cons of a Longer School Day Does Not Ensure Higher Achievement Some studies have been done that show that longer instruction time can improve achievement, but those results depend on things like classroom environment, quality of instruction, student prior knowledge and ability. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. The final class ends 1-2 hours before the work day ends for most parents. Working a couple of hours after school gains experience and disposable income. time attracting qualified applicants. Year round schools, can actually benefit students in the long run. Shorter, intense courses in which a semesters worth of content is delivered at an expedited rate were deemed to be more successful by students in a recent study by academics at the University of Texas at Austin. 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. It also means that certain holiday vacations, such as Thanksgiving, are extended to a full week, and that can be a scheduling concern for many families. Spread the loveAfrican Africans have a long history of being mistreated in the United States, starting with slavery. 4 Day School Week Pros and Cons. Approximately 1,800 schools in the U.S. have extended learning hours, but there are many pros and cons of extended school days. Shorter work weeks can improve employment productivity and provide families with more meaningful time together. Rural school districts and small school districts benefit the most from a 4-day schedule because of their natural isolation. The school day had to accommodate available daylight and the requirements of helping with the family farm.