One way to address these issues is to shift the traditional school schedule into a 4-day week. Adds flexibility to teachers schedules. Do students learn better in shorter classes? This is one reason school districts use to implement dress codes. Arlene Ackerman says she and her students don't have the strength to teach or learn near the end of the school day. The Chattooga County School District reported similar results from their trial with this schedule as well. Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades. 1. Should schools go to a 4 day school week instead of 5 days? 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. Here are some additional key points to think about when looking at the pros and cons of a 4-day school week. One school said that they have saved a teacher in diesel fuel costs (chiaramonte 2 ). Year-round schooling has been proposed as a better option for students than a traditional 9-month schedule. 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? 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 . 6. The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. Over the course of their first year on this new schedule, they reported that the frequency of discipline referrals for their students dropped by 73%. Ages. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. The four-day school is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the U.S. 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. 5. The list just gets longer. 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. How do longer school days affect students? According to a Center for American Progress study, traditional school schedules are out of sync with the current economic environment. Overall, a shorter school schedule resulted in a 7% increase in math scores and a 3% gain in reading. The trade-off for a shorter week is a longer school day. These school districts are typically in isolated regions, are rural, and have a student body that is fewer than 500 students. Some of the pros of year-round schooling include: 1 . They saved 1.4%, or $45,000, instead. First, it would give students more time to focus on their homework and studies outside of school. over 1 million dollars on utilities, busing, and labor costs. Does this sound exciting and rich with possibilities? Pros and Cons of the Four-Day Week Proponents of four-day school weeks say that even though cost savings are minimal, they are achieved. the traditional 5th day. But the extra money hasn't gone into teachers' salaries, which have dropped on average from . There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. From Disabled and $500k in Debt to a Pro Blogger with 5 Million Monthly Visitors, 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week, 21 Best SMART Goals Examples for Teachers and Educators, "From Disabled and $500k in Debt to a Pro Blogger with 5 Million Monthly Visitors. In many cases, it is in the best interests of students to reduce costs and have minimal impact on instruction. There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. In YRE, the number of days in school equals the number of days in a calendar year (180 days). Sometimes even starting school earlier in the . His conclusion was that the best way to solve poverty was to educate the children in public schools. What's the Difference Between Burnout and Demoralization, and What Can Teachers Do About It? There are improvements in the school financially. Pros. The kids groan, complain about getting out of bed, and struggle to get through the morning 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). . Special correspondent Lisa Stark of Education Week reports on the pros and cons for students, families and schools. According to author accounts, teachers and students suffer as a result of recess being taken away as a punishment for behavior. 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. On top of that, you will likely only be taking 1-2 classes at a time instead of four or more. When properly implemented, extended learning time programs have the potential to increase students academic progress as well as their social and emotional development. Some schools do not allow recess to be used as punishment, while others may do so on a case-by-case basis. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. Pros and cons of a four day working week. the fifth day, but they forget, they will still be open and running activities In 1995, 84 school districts were studied that had already implemented a 4-day school week. Very Costly. 4 day school week would be better for schools without a doubt because you save money and kids will be more refreshed and not burned out also their behavior is showed to become better. But others are worried about when kids should be in school. Children need the opportunity to rest and re-energize, and theyre often overextended with activities, homework and part-time jobs. School districts save money. List of the Advantages of 4-Day School Weeks 1. Children have more time to participate in other activities that help them learn more. Data is an important variable if youre considering the longer school days pros and cons list. These actions often negate the benefits of the 3-day weekend because it really isnt a true 3-day weekend. All rights reserved. When I was a teacher, many moons ago, this was a fringe schooling schedule only practiced by rural school districts. This leads to added costs that some families, living paycheck to paycheck, may not be able to afford. recess is not only ineffective but also harmful to students who may feel that the punishment is excessive. 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. 1. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. Four day school weeks may not be a realistic situation for all schools throughout the nation, but for those that it is possible, the four day school week saves money, improves test scores, and further improves the school as a whole. What we envisage may not be the most straightforward or the most conventional ideas. Home Pros and Cons 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week. . How To Switch School Districts Without Moving? After-school jobs are a common way for teens to make money. When looking at the benefits of a longer school year, the opportunity for expanding subject matter and the individualized needs of students are factors. 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. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, rendering the additional class time unproductive. Over the last century, humans have acquired a staggering amount of knowledge and understanding. Students are engaged more fully when their school schedule is expanded, and they learn more efficiently when they are exposed to a more stimulating environment. Your email address will not be published. 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. But slowly over the nation, schools are switching to a four day school week. 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. That also means some families, with children who are old enough, can eliminate daycare expenses completely with this type of scheduling option. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. Not only would this give everyone a 3-day weekend to enjoy, it would also limit the pressure on students and teachers to have a diversified learning experience in a compressed time period. The longer school days of a 4-day week make it almost impossible for teens to find a job after school. Massachusetts, a pioneer in extended learning time (ELT), has made significant progress in this field. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. One of the primary motivations for adopting the four-day week is financial savings for the school district. 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. It involves increasing communication and various forms of interaction between people of different nations, ethnicities and cultures. Many recommend that teens get at least eight hours of sleep to feel well rested and . 3. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Signup for The Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in P-20 education news and opinion delivered to your email address! Students spend less time on the bus. What are the pros and cons of shorter school week? 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. There are a few potential drawbacks to shorter school days. 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. She studies hard, does her research and assignments, and goes to class every single day. The major pros and cons of a 4-day school week suggest that it can save money for districts, which means taxpayers benefit. It changes the holiday schedules for the school district. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less . 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. 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. The schedule change also shifted how teachers assigned homework, making it more efficient and focused. Every community has their own unique requirements that must be addressed by school scheduling. In this article, we will examine this question in depth. 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. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools. As with any innovation, shorter workweeks have advantages and disadvantages. Do 4-day school weeks positively affect student outcomes? There are a few reasons why shorter school days could be beneficial. There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district. Disadvantage: Less time for extracurricular activities. The districts which offer the 4-day work week receive more applications and more qualified applicants than the other school districts. It is a program for mostly rural and small school districts. They question the value of a continuous . This provided the teacher with more freedom with curriculum and time management. The four-day arrangement gives opportunity for students to work an extra day at an after-school job, participate in volunteer activities, or pursue further educational goals by taking advantage of the extra day. Why did they switch to 4-day school weeks? I believe that if we go to a four day school week that it would help the kids physically, mentally, and financially. Students will have extra time outside of school to devote to other essential elements of their life as a result of this change. Webster County, Kentucky moved their school district to a 4-day week in 2003. 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. 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. 2. There are potential savings to food programs and other important areas of infrastructure because the school district is closed 1 additional day each week. 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. Saving on utilities school buses, and long term building wear and tear. At the same time, teacher attendance rates also rose, which is a trend still seen in these districts, 20+ years later. 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. 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. Long school days can cause eating problems for students who don't eat at school, or who use up all their energy while learning. If so, keep reading. In some situations, a single teacher may be responsible for over 100 students. 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. School districts save money. Does precision really make a program successful? When it comes to school, we most likely understand what its like to go to school all year. She is the author and co-author of 12 books and serves as a consultant in K-12 and higher education. If so, keep reading. A longer school day would involve substantial funding for teacher salaries and facility maintenance. Sometimes, schools are forced to travel during the school week to play some games or attend certain events. (Solution). What are the pros and cons of longer school days? remediating them begin to take a bite out of the budget. The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. 4. How does it impact your success? 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. Some school districts have reported saving These are the key points that must be addressed first. Pros of Year-Round School. 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. 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. Delaying school start times will assist students in developing the skills required to reach their full potential. Who Sang For Troy In High School Musical? After analyzing Colorado schools operating on four-day school weeks, (Dam) reports that transportation costs can be reduced by 20%. Over the course of a 2-year period on this alternative schedule, they reported up to a 20% increase in student attendance. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. 5. They do have a full day free for a job in some instances, but trying to find work on the weekends only, especially in a rural community, is never a guarantee unless you dont mind working on a farm, that is. In 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. These are more reasons CHS should move to a four day school week. The organization 4 Day Week Global sponsored the program. More rest then equates to dealing with less stress over the course of a school year. Another potential drawback is that shorter school days could lead to more after-school activities, which could be a problem for working parents. 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? The University of New Mexico Newsroom: Research Study Yields Unexpected Conclusion About Longer School Years. It provides a realistic way for schools to remain open and also has added benefits beyond saving money. Students can adjust to the new schedule. That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. 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. A 4-day school week is misleading. 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. Spread the loveFor the past few decades, our countrys educational system has seen both struggle and tremendous change. They balk at the idea of kids attending schools with no summer break. (Question). Longer school days may lead to attention deficit and fatigue, making the extra class time ineffective. Despite these difficulties, many disabled students go on to lead successful and fulfilling lives. According to new research, the four-day week is a popular way for parents and students to spend quality time together. 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. Your email address will not be published. 3. There are 21 states that have four-day school districts. There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on students math and reading scores. In the United States, $17.5 billion each year is spent on school bus transportation. Fuel, oil, salaries, and supervisory costs can be, A lot of parents are shaking their heads at the consideration of a four-day school week, and a longer school day. Students are still getting the same amount of instruction in terms of minutes, just in a shorter number of days. 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. 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. Students feel less pressure because they have more time to study at their own pace at home, especially in the later grades. 4. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to help students who cannot fasten their own clothes? This schedule works much better for parents, who often have that working schedule themselves. Additional costs savings from a shorter day include less . The most popular is a 32-hour work week, which means people work 8 hours per day, 4 hours in a week. The benefits are many. Thats two hours of lost time for farm chores, homework, or other responsibilities that rural families have more often than urban or suburban families. 4-day school weeks add It provides an extra day for actual rest to occur when it may be needed without compromising the remainder of the family schedule. Shorter class durations allow students to enroll in a variety of courses. Your typical school week: Monday-Friday with the hours sometime between 7 am- 4 pm. Finalists and Winners of The 2022 Tech Edvocate Awards, Finalists and Winners of The 2021 Tech Edvocate Awards, Finalists and Winners of The 2020 Tech Edvocate Awards, Finalists and Winners of The 2019 Tech Edvocate Awards, Finalists and Winners of The 2018 Tech Edvocate Awards, Finalists and Winners of The 2017 Tech Edvocate Awards, 21 Ways to Teach Students to Use Learning Materials Appropriately, Classical Idealism: Everything You Need to Know, Good Research Topics about Womens Movement, Most Interesting Wine Essay Topics to Write about, Most Interesting Walmart Essay Topics to Write about, Most Interesting W.E.B. Employment opportunities with a 3-day weekend are increasing. Year round schools, can actually benefit students in the long run. 2. In-depth consultation between all constituents reveals the pros and cons of extended school days. These will be some pros of a four day school week. Why weekends should be longer for students? Elizabeth Perle 1). Pros and Cons of a Shorter Workweek. four-day week across 16 school districts. 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. 1. 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. Year-round education (YRE) is being considered or adopted by some districts. Since the approach to curriculum development and pedagogical style varies by state and district, data must be disaggregated to evaluate specific impact. If a longer lunch allows high school students to leave campus, they might opt for unhealthy fast-food options; on the other hand, this extended time might allow them to seek out healthier dishes than those available in the cafeteria. 4. Money is saved on that day because they don't have to run lights, heater or AC. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Spread the loveThe International Baccalaureate Program is a very intensive pre-college program in which when students get involved, they get college credit. It may improve overall student attendance. Moving to the 4-day schedule shifts student movement patterns, reducing the number of lost transition minutes. Schools are facing many issues today. Many of these schools are already operating on an alternative schedule because that is what works best for their community. 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. schedule, the district adds 40 or so minutes to make up for the time lost on Next, parents would not have to get day care except on Fridays instead of the whole summer. When shifted to a 4-day school week, they reported that they were forced to focus on instruction much more than they had previously. More teaching: Covid-19 has resulted in a lot of disruption in teaching. Spread the loveThis term describes a manner of classifying gifted students to place them in properly segmented classrooms. It is also good for teachers and the whole school. The final class ends 1-2 hours before the work day ends for most parents. 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. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. 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. There tends to be less student exhaustion, which allows them to focus more on the learning process. disabled students may also find it difficult to participate in extracurricular activities and socialise with their peers. In the United States, the average school day is around six and a half hours long. Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Opportunity to relax and really immerse yourself in the experience. 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. All of these consequences just because nobody wants to shorten the school day. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. 2023 The Black Well Firm. Kids already spend a very long time each week in the school and away from their family. If school doesnt get out until 4pm, then the student makes it home at 5pm. 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. Other Debates. A small portion of the districts cash is saved, but not as much as intangibles. The Cons. Many school Class runs Monday- Thursday with an added 40-60 minutes each day to compensate for the lost time by not having the schools run on Fridays. The schedule forces teachers to spend small blocks of time on specific topics without really being able to dig into in-depth issues. As a result, kids will be less worried about time management and will be less likely to fall behind on such rewarding activities. Schools are able to switch to a four-day week by simply increasing the length of their school day. The With short school days, students can devote a fair share of time to other meaningful areas in their life, such as socializing and simply being a kid. 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. 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. Should school hours be shorter? A three-day weekend allows for extra leisure time, as well as a reduction in commute and energy usage. Rural families experience the greatest impacts from the 4-day school week. It may eliminate common holidays, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, from the schedule. Also, since special populations fare poorly in this configuration, the costs of In Colorado, 31 of the states 176 school districts are currently using a 4-day school week.
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