When implemented, however, 1st graders do just as well as teens with the expanded schedule and 3-day weekend. Schools are facing many issues today. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. Spread the loveWe all have our heroes. In the standard 5-day school week, sports practices occur after school. Shorter Classes: Depending on your school's summer schedule, you can complete a semester's worth of work in eight, five, or even three weeks. Disadvantage: Less time for extracurricular activities. Advantage: More time to devote to learning. The average national cost that schools need to pay for each students bus transportation is $459. Taking only one class is practically a . Cutting that by 20% means a savings of $4 billion, if implemented nationwide. That can make it difficult for some students to pay attention to the information being provided. It is important to consider all of the factors before making a decision. Bisbee Unified School District (AZ) saved $154,000, Duval County Public School (FL) saved $7 million, and Lake Superior School District (MN) $200,000. Changing the times could increase attendance by 1%, which could bring in $40 million more. In the 4-day school week They can supervise their children at the bus stop in rural districts as well. Students already feel like their school day is too long. It involves increasing communication and various forms of interaction between people of different nations, ethnicities and cultures. Lets take a look at some proof. This schedule cycles consistently throughout the year while making minor adjustments for major holidays and teacher workdays. Find out about families that swap a shorter summer break for learning time that's more continuous. The current school schedule is a major downgrade from the 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM distance learning schedule. Long school days can cause eating problems for students who don't eat at school, or who use up all their energy while learning. Wildbit, a company based in the US, a portion of whose workforce works remotely, tested the 4-day week to see whether the shorter working hours will affect employee productivity. When busing and after-school activities are included in that timeframe as well, some older students may find themselves putting in 12-hour days at school every 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. There are various school days in the United States. By shifting to a 4-day schedule, it becomes easier to transport students to all after-school events and activities because there is an extra day available to plan activities without running into mandatory school times. To see how shorter school days hurt both teachers and students, we need to look at a major structural change in education. Finally, teachers and students would have better relationships as they spend more time together instead of being rushed. Christmas and Spring holiday weeks may be extended as well. This added If so, keep reading. Rural school districts find the greatest benefit in this area. 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). Webster County, Kentucky moved their school district to a 4-day week in 2003. 2. On the plus side, employees love it. If schools only had one day off per week, millions of dollars would be saved. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. Colorado has nearly three-quarters of its school districts on a four-day schedule. This would help not only our school but also the parents if they cant afford the gas. Many school Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. Spread the loveBeing a teacher is a tough job. 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. According to a Center for American Progress study, traditional school schedules are out of sync with the current economic environment. The capital, insurance, maintenance, and administrative costs remain relatively constant. 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. Spread the loveThe International Baccalaureate Program is a very intensive pre-college program in which when students get involved, they get college credit. In 2022, companies in the U.K., the U.S., and Canada instituted a four-day workweek pilot program to test the concept. the fifth day, but they forget, they will still be open and running activities Do 4-day school weeks positively affect student outcomes? Con: School districts across the U.S. are struggling to make ends meet. Pros and Cons of a Shorter Workweek. Long school days, on the other hand, can present some challenges and, at the very least, unsatisfactory outcomes. In Alabama, the school year lasts 180 days and the school day lasts 7.03 hours. It is encouraged for students to try new things in order to benefit from them. The Chattooga County School District reported similar results from their trial with this schedule as well. Pro: Education is a priority, and funding should not hold back efforts to provide more effective academic preparation for students. Lets face it our best school memories arent from tests or pop quizzes. Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. This occurs because a large number of students are moving around the school campus. 1. There is the possibility of making up for lost time, especially those who are at a disadvantage due to the digital divide. Children need the opportunity to rest and re-energize, and theyre often overextended with activities, homework and part-time jobs. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. The standard requirement for schools is 180 days or an average range of 990-1080 hours. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools. In many US school districts, the first class begins 1-2 hours after most parents need to be at work. They can explore and discover various hobbies and interests, maintain their stress levels and get more sleep. The Alaska school year averaged about 180 days in length, and the school day was 6.48 hours long. They were located in 7 western states in the U.S. and all but 13 of them identified themselves as being a rural school district. 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. There are several advantages and disadvantages of 4-day school weeks to examine based on the results that districts are reporting from their efforts to implement this schedule. In 1095or in 1905, depending on your sourcesRoberto Nevelis of Venice, Italy, is often credited with inventing the concept of homework. Increases student attendance. This can be due to a lack of accessible facilities and resources, or negative attitudes and misconceptions from teachers and classmates. Four day school weeks are becoming a necessity for some rural school districts that lack funding. There will be days, even with the best efforts of everyone involved, where a student is stuck with an after-hours activity, deep into the night, after being in class for most of the day. At my school, class went from 8:15 a.m. until 4:15 p.m. about an hour or two longer than a typical five-day-week school's day. 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. With the 4-day schedule, another 1.5 hours is added to their school day, every day. School districts consider shorter school days for several reasons, including saving money and providing students the ability to participate in more extracurricular activities. Data from the National Association of Year-Round Education . That is a lot of time taken away, but if the school days were shortened, you would have a lot more time to do your activities. Oklahoma Department of Education examined the economic effect of going to a Their students were more focused because they were more rested, which equated to fewer classroom disruptions. Because of this, school districts dont have a hard 4. Also, since special populations fare poorly in this configuration, the costs of Our individualized learning setup at the Tenney School allows us to offer more instruction in a shorter amount of time. What we envisage may not be the most straightforward or the most conventional ideas. schedule, the district adds 40 or so minutes to make up for the time lost on 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. It may improve overall student attendance. She studies hard, does her research and assignments, and goes to class every single day. Approximately 1,800 schools in the U.S. have extended learning hours, but there are many pros and cons of extended school days. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? More rest then equates to dealing with less stress over the course of a school year. The major pros and cons of a 4-day school week suggest that it can save money for districts, which means taxpayers benefit. One of the primary motivations for adopting the four-day week is financial savings for the school district. Accidents, absences, and absences all fall on the decline, and students academic performance rises. Teachers are frequently overworked and required to perform tasks that are outside their job description. That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. Shorter school days should be utilized in the U.S. education system as it comes with many benefits. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that attendance improves; parents and teachers can schedule doctor's appointments and other weekday commitments for Fridays rather than during school days. According to author accounts, teachers and students suffer as a result of recess being taken away as a punishment for behavior. The decision to implement such a schedule must therefore be handled at the local level. Public school everything for schoolchildren and students. Many of these districts are small and rural, such as Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. How To Switch School Districts Without Moving? What Grades Is Elementary School? The American Academy of Pediatrics states that children between the ages of 12 and 18 require at least eight hours of sleep per night, and in some cases as much as nine hours. Sacrifices Family Time. Traditional vs. 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. It changes the holiday schedules for the school district. In the United States, the average school day is around six and a half hours long. Most parents work a 5-day schedule and struggle to adapt to a 4-day school schedule. They may also experience irritability and fatigue. Schools are able to switch to a four-day week by simply increasing the length of their school day. The organization 4 Day Week Global sponsored the program. Pros of the 4-day School Week. It is critical to avoid producing a longer school day and instead produce a healthier, more balanced, and more engaging one. In 1995, 84 school districts were studied that had already implemented a 4-day school week. Spread the loveUsually, people are under the wrong impression that geography does not offer many job opportunities, and there are no jobs for a geographer. Compacting school into just four days a week leaves more time for kids to spend with family, friends and outside interests. That is because larger districts offer more activities, manage more student events, and operate essentially 7 days per week during the school year anyway. Easier to recruit employees. Finally, shorter school days could result in less time for extracurricular activities, which could have a negative impact on student morale. When the new school day was implemented, the system was relieved of the need to cram math, reading, and science into a short period of time, allowing for more time to be spent on subjects that students enjoy and teachers enjoy. Home Pros and Cons 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week. In many cases, it is in the best interests of students to reduce costs and have minimal impact on instruction. There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on student's math and reading scores. the traditional 5th day. Anticipated savings are in transportation, food and food service workers, hourly workers and utilities. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. It was suggested that a combination of four-week summer holidays and a school day finishing at 4:30pm would lead to improvements in pupil attainment. 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. Long summers are known to cause "summer slide," or the decline of academic skills and knowledge over the course of the extended vacation. ", 21 Payday Loan Industry Statistics, Trends & Analysis, 100 Best Side Hustles for Teens to Make Money, 10 Proven Psychological Pricing Strategies with Examples, 100 Office Etiquette Rules You Need to Know, 50 Best Business Letter Closings of All-Time. 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. When properly implemented, extended learning time programs have the potential to increase students academic progress as well as their social and emotional development. 3. The ability to express oneself via electives can make children happier and more cooperative in the classroom. Pros And Cons Of Five Day School Week 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. Your typical school week: Monday-Friday with the hours sometime between 7 am- 4 pm. According to the majority of the researchers, the inconclusive results do not imply that decisions to change schedules should be made based on test scores. Those changes happen because students who are active participants in their learning have more fun in school. Sometimes, schools are forced to travel during the school week to play some games or attend certain events. In this article, we will examine this question in depth. four-day week across 16 school districts. In YRE, the number of days in school equals the number of days in a calendar year (180 days). The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. So what are the pros and cons of 4-day school weeks? Teachers report List of Cons of Implementing 4-Day School Weeks 1. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students to take care of their personal property? The school day is too long. Does this sound exciting and rich with possibilities? They also said students can gain more time for fun and still receive an excellent education. In New Mexico, 18 of the states 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. All of these consequences just because nobody wants to shorten the school day. Many recommend that teens get at least eight hours of sleep to feel well rested and . Our general school hours run from 9 am - 2 pm, with extra . This has been a hot topic especially the states that dont have as large of an economy. They balk at the idea of kids attending schools with no summer break. There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district. It can help teachers and students better manage the process of learning. 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. Small group learning with discussion, for example, increases the information retention rate for students up to 80%. The Melstone School District in Montana also shifted to a 4-day school week. Although sleep is a huge and major part, it is not the only part. However, disabled students often face additional challenges in accessing education and achieving academic success. If school doesnt get out until 4pm, then the student makes it home at 5pm. Shorter class durations allow students to enroll in a variety of courses. Games occur in the evening, often on the weekend. With the long break of summer, many people prefer the short breaks of year round schools. What are the pros and cons of shorter school week? (Solution). Ages. As a result, learning is less effective due to budget constraints. Changing school start times will increase attendance and money brought in. It was Mann who founded the first public school in the United States and is widely regarded as the Father of the Public School System. What are some arguments for ending school at 8 hours? In the United States, only five states require recess in elementary schools, with Texas not one of them. 2023 The Black Well Firm. Most schools, when Year Round Schooling: Should it Be Implemented? Rural families experience the greatest impacts from the 4-day school week. When a school opts to go with an early start time, then students are spending less time sitting in traffic as they head to class. An eight-hour day is pretty undesirable for elementary-aged kids. From the moment you walk into the second you walk out. Decreased need to re-teach skills after long vacations, allowing teachers to use classroom time more efficiently. To be competitive in a global market, students need to be exposed to a wide variety of subject matter. But the extra money hasn't gone into teachers' salaries, which have dropped on average from . Over the course of a 2-year period on this alternative schedule, they reported up to a 20% increase in student attendance. For school districts struggling with funding issues, the potential savings here could save the budget. Better sleep: Delayed start time could help teens sleep during . Recently Michael Gove raised the issue of the length of school holidays and the school day - the former are apparently too long, the latter too short. These schools save all this money from just switching to a shorter week. Next, parents would not have to get day care except on Fridays instead of the whole summer. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, making the additional class time inefficient. The majority of these are found in the western United States, including Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Oklahoma, Thompson said. There is no one answer to this question as every disabled students experience is unique. Students are still getting the same amount of instruction in terms of minutes, just in a shorter number of days. If so, keep reading. Teachers in Seattle are deciding how to use an additional 20 minutes on top of the usual school day. These are more reasons CHS should move to a four day school week. Which one is the best? 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). Rural school districts and small school districts benefit the most from a 4-day schedule because of their natural isolation. 1. over 1 million dollars on utilities, busing, and labor costs. 5. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. Adds flexibility to teachers schedules. NEA Today: A 9 to 5 School Day: Are Longer Hours Better for Students and Educators? Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. Extending the school day is a hot topic for educational policy making bodies. At the same time, the constant back-and-forth for students limits the amount of fun they can have. There should be year round schooling because it can help students learn more and forget less, other classes are included and childcare is provided, teachers get more time to plan and teach lessons. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to encourage students to take care of their personal property? In Colorado, 31 of the states 176 school districts are currently using a 4-day school week. As you can see, there are a lot of pros and cons to the 4-day school week, but in terms of its long-term effect on academic outcomes, the jury is still out. Such as emotional and behavioral problems, violence, depression, alcohol use, impaired cognitive function, etc. disabled students may also find it difficult to participate in extracurricular activities and socialise with their peers. Too Early to Tell NOTE : The information on this website is for general information purposes only. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days. 4. The Agrarian calendar is rooted in the past. You should approach these strategies with your childs teacher instead of punishing him or her. A new educational model could be implemented: 9-to-5 schools. Opportunity to relax and really immerse yourself in the experience. For the parents of younger students, an additional full day of daycare may need to be scheduled every week instead of a partial day. Those human beings that seem larger than life and almost achieve Godlike status. The Rochester City Council established the Extended Learning Time initiative as part of Rochesters ongoing commitment to education. recess has numerous benefits, including assisting students in reducing aggression and improving learning. It is a program for mostly rural and small school districts. In general, taking away recess as punishment may be seen as unfair or too harsh, especially for young children. One school said that they have saved a teacher in diesel fuel costs (chiaramonte 2 ). Pro: In 2004, the school day was lengthened for a Massachusetts school to address the issue of underperforming students. Less time in school could allow students the freedom to discover other interests that are fulfilling and stimulating. The Pros and Cons of a Shortened School Schedule Every issue has its good and bad bits, and the same is true for districts making the switch to a shortened school week. Extending the school year may help make teaching a full-time, more lucrative profession for educators if year-round schools can cut costs through . The article Should School Stay Earlier? Sara Blackwell teaches Employment Law at University of South Florida in Tampa and she is a published author. In This means students in a district with this alternative schedule get out later for the holidays than students on the traditional Monday-Friday schedule. A poll where 2,700 random people were polled about 67% favoured a 4 day school week(university of Scranton). In some situations, a single teacher may be responsible for over 100 students. Copyright (c) 2023 Matthew Lynch. According to Adam Urbanski, president of the Rochester Teachers Association, there is no guarantee that popularity will be replicated in other schools. 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. This schedule works much better for parents, who often have that working schedule themselves. Along with giving kids more time to concentrate on critical activities, a shortened school day would also provide pupils with more opportunity to relax. What are the pros and cons of longer school days? Who Sang For Troy In High School Musical? 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. The reason why school districts are going to a 4 day school week is to save money and the states that you see switching to a 4 days are states that have economic problems such as Oklahoma. 1. 4 Day School Week Pros and Cons. . Special correspondent Lisa Stark of Education Week reports on the pros and cons for students, families and schools. In 2007-2008, the United States had an average school day of 6.64 hours per day, and an average school year of 180 days. Elizabeth Perle 1). 2. 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. 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. Year-Round Schedules Many people think of the school year as starting in August or at the beginning of September and continuing for 10 months. Practices for sports are still held on the fifth day, as are teacher conferences, staff development opportunities, and required janitorial work. The four-day school is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the U.S. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. Students will have extra time outside of school to devote to other essential elements of their life as a result of this change. My main concern is that most kids will not be able to focus by the end of the day because the school days will be longer,and so there would be no point in trying to teach at the end of the day. 1. One of the biggest concerns of a 4-day school week is the length of seat time that younger students must complete. Students can adjust to the new schedule. That means the average cost, per student, is about $700. There is no one answer to this question as it can depend on individual circumstances. Arlene Ackerman says she and her students don't have the strength to teach or learn near the end of the school day. 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. Older students can spend time engaging in resum-building public service or paid work. Easier to recruit employees. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less . 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. Granby School District in Colorado shifted to a 4-day schedule for their 1,100 students. It is possible to have a negative impact on some laboratory classes by reducing the number of minutes in class each day. recess is not only ineffective but also harmful to students who may feel that the punishment is excessive. The school districts in New Mexico are one of the best examples of this benefit. Pros and cons of shorter work weeks. 2. Some of the pros of year-round schooling include: 1 . Many schools are adding thirty minutes to both the beginning and end of the school day. We can all agree that school feels like it lasts forever. There is a variety of emotional and behavioral problems, depression, alcohol use, and impaired cognitive function that can contribute to this. When looking at the benefits of a longer school year, the opportunity for expanding subject matter and the individualized needs of students are factors. Well, at least initially. Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. 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. The pros of year-round school Eliminating any sort of long break from school can improve a child's academic achievement. For non year-round schools the dropout rate is 5%, which is more than all year-round schools. But slowly over the nation, schools are switching to a four day school week. Year round schools, can actually benefit students in the long run. One internet search reveals a wealth of opinions on both sides of the issue, and each argument sheds light on the topic. There are a few reasons why shorter school days could be beneficial. If something goes wrong . The Edvocate was created in 2014 to argue for shifts in education policy and organization in order to enhance the quality of education and the opportunities for learning afforded to P-20 students in America. What Are the Pros of a Longer School Day? flexibility is why they are such staunch proponents of the 4-day school schedule.