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. School administration, associates with principal office also went down. Teachers can use more time in the day to go on field trips or expand content areas. We can all agree that school feels like it lasts forever. Second, it would allow students to get more sleep, which is important for their health and well-being. I say this because we would have to start. Children have more time to participate in other activities that help them learn more. 5. Pro: In 2004, the school day was lengthened for a Massachusetts school to address the issue of underperforming students. They argue that playing with classmates helps children develop social skills. Delaying school start times has been shown to have positive outcomes for students and families in overwhelming scientific research. Shorter School Days Are the Way. The driving force behind the proposal to lengthen the school day is the assertion that more instructional time would yield greater academic gains. In New Mexico, 18 of the states 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. For others, perhaps not. Why shorter school days are better for teachers? Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? They question the value of a continuous . Employment opportunities with a 3-day weekend are increasing. Longer school days may have some positive impact on student achievement, but research on their effects is lacking. 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. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools. If practicums can be included with small group discussions, the retention rate can top 90% for some students. Revisiting Using Edtech for Bullying and Suicide Prevention. There are 21 states that have four-day school districts. Too Early to Tell Another potential drawback is that shorter school days could lead to more after-school activities, which could be a problem for working parents. Schools may even have to purchase lights for after school activities. In 1995, 84 school districts were studied that had already implemented a 4-day school week. A longer school day would involve substantial funding for teacher salaries and facility maintenance. Certain activities or games should be prohibited (for an indefinite period of time). It creates a long school day for students. 3. The move toward a shorter workweek is gaining momentum. 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. 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. These schools save all this money from just switching to a shorter week. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to each. Some are facing the debate about whether to keep standardized tests or not. One of the biggest concerns of a 4-day school week is the length of seat time that younger students must complete. the traditional 5th day. Better Employee Engagement A 4 day week can lead to happier and more committed employees. In 1095or in 1905, depending on your sourcesRoberto Nevelis of Venice, Italy, is often credited with inventing the concept of homework. 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. The article Should School Stay Earlier? It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. This could be especially true for students who are struggling in a particular subject or for students who have a lot of homework. There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district. After-school jobs are a common way for teens to make money. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. Some school districts have reported saving Why did they switch to 4-day school weeks? Rural school districts and small school districts benefit the most from a 4-day schedule because of their natural isolation. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. The schedule forces teachers to spend small blocks of time on specific topics without really being able to dig into in-depth issues. Some districts have seen their disciplinary issues decline by more than 70% in the first two years of implementing a 4-day schedule. The current school schedule is a major downgrade from the 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM distance learning schedule. 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. Changing the system could result in many more. Shorter days can only be seen as a positive thing and would benefit students, teacher, and administrators. 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. Potential for juvenile crime to increase. Students already feel like their school day is too long. Which one is the best? Moving to the 4-day schedule shifts student movement patterns, reducing the number of lost transition minutes. The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. In 2006, a study by Yarbrough and Gilman found that teachers working in a 5-day school schedule reported that they have a lot of wasted time. In YRE, the number of days in school equals the number of days in a calendar year (180 days). 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. districts think they will save tons of money by cutting operational costs on The Such as emotional and behavioral problems, violence, depression, alcohol use, impaired cognitive function, etc. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less . They found out that seven school districts saved money under the new 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. The basic assumption of a 4 day work week is fulfilling the duties in a shorter amount of time, instead of the usual five-day workweek and receiving the same pay. Shortening the school day by even an hour or two can allow a district to save dramatically on its utility costs. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Your email address will not be published. This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and. 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. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. If school doesnt get out until 4pm, then the student makes it home at 5pm. Long summers are known to cause "summer slide," or the decline of academic skills and knowledge over the course of the extended vacation. Year-round education (YRE) is being considered or adopted by some districts. Sometimes, schools are forced to travel during the school week to play some games or attend certain events. flexibility is why they are such staunch proponents of the 4-day school schedule. Spread the loveFor the past few decades, our countrys educational system has seen both struggle and tremendous change. 1. Additional learning time as well as improved schedule alignment would make the lives of families noticeably more pleasant. These actions often negate the benefits of the 3-day weekend because it really isnt a true 3-day weekend. Pro: Education is a priority, and funding should not hold back efforts to provide more effective academic preparation for students. This occurs because a large number of students are moving around the school campus. Additional costs savings from a shorter day include less . Students who attend year-round school have the same number of school days as their counterparts following a traditional schedule. Getting to school on-time or making it out for the bus is a constant battle. This leads to added costs that some families, living paycheck to paycheck, may not be able to afford. Although the final outcome was beneficial the origins of the extended day was not welcomed. In Peetz Colorado a debate is going on four a four day school week. 3. The idea has been to cut hours while keeping pay the same. There is no one answer to this question as every disabled students experience is unique. Advantages of a Shorter Work Week People who work a four-day week say they're healthier, happier, and less time-pressured, according to a report in The Atlantic - and their employers say their employees are much more focused and efficient. On the other hand, there have been studies that found no significant difference in overall academic achievement between four-day districts and five-day districts. Every community has their own unique requirements that must be addressed by school scheduling. If something goes wrong . 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 majority of these are found in the western United States, including Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Oklahoma, Thompson said. Finally, teachers and students would have better relationships as they spend more time together instead of being rushed. Spread the loveThis program assesses 15-year-old students schooling in countries that form part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. It changes the holiday schedules for the school district. 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. The average length of the K-12 school day is 8:30 to 3:00, engaging U.S. students in school for 6.64 hours a day over the span of 180 school days. 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. According to Adam Urbanski, president of the Rochester Teachers Association, there is no guarantee that popularity will be replicated in other schools. . The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days. These are more reasons CHS should move to a four day school week. From the moment you walk into the second you walk out. The major pros and cons of a 4-day school week suggest that it can save money for districts, which means taxpayers benefit. 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. Opportunity to relax and really immerse yourself in the experience. But slowly over the nation, schools are switching to a four day school week. We call for a relatively radical and certainly quite comprehensive reorganization of Americas P-20 system. If so, keep reading. The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. For school districts following the 4-day school week, the Thanksgiving holiday usually receives a full week off instead of the final two days of the week. The only question is does it hurt students education but the statistics are showing that is clearly not the case one bit. That means half of parents will enjoy the alternative school schedule and half will hate it. How does it impact your success? 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. 6-7. The pros of year-round school Eliminating any sort of long break from school can improve a child's academic achievement. The schedule change also shifted how teachers assigned homework, making it more efficient and focused. There are a few potential drawbacks to shorter school days. More rest then equates to dealing with less stress over the course of a school year. How To Switch School Districts Without Moving? It is a program for mostly rural and small school districts. It would also be beneficial to reduce the week in order to promote activity participation. What we envisage may not be the most straightforward or the most conventional ideas. Copyright (c) 2023 Matthew Lynch. Easier to recruit employees. Small group learning with discussion, for example, increases the information retention rate for students up to 80%. on those days off. In general, ELT has received positive feedback; however, some schools have had more difficult transitions than others. 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. In the United States, only five states require recess in elementary schools, with Texas not one of them. over 1 million dollars on utilities, busing, and labor costs. Money is saved on that day because they don't have to run lights, heater or AC. 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 idea of having a four-day school has been around for several decades, and has been considered at least since the 1930s, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. However, disabled students often face additional challenges in accessing education and achieving academic success. Traditional vs. Spread the loveAfrican Africans have a long history of being mistreated in the United States, starting with slavery. But recently, there has been a move towards shorter weeks across the United States. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less time to participate in extracurricular activities. Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. 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 . flexibility to teachers schedules and as a result, makes their jobs more Spread the loveEducation is a collaborative process, as it takes many stakeholders working in unison to help students succeed academically. remediating them begin to take a bite out of the budget. 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. STP every day allows students to do their schoolwork, resulting in reduced overall stress. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. Older students can spend time engaging in resum-building public service or paid work. One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. Spread the loveThe Talent Search Initiative has as its aim; the identification of high-performing students by organizing specific tests. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. During recess, limit the number of games or activities that students can participate in. That means one of the biggest expenses for the district is immediately cut by 20%. Because the four-day school week has only been around for a decade or so, we simply dont have enough time, data, or research to make a definitive declaration. 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. 1. What Grades Is Elementary School? . 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. If so, keep reading. 4. There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on student's math and reading scores. Your typical school week: Monday-Friday with the hours sometime between 7 am- 4 pm. When implemented, however, 1st graders do just as well as teens with the expanded schedule and 3-day weekend. 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! Other Debates. 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. The Pros of Longer School Days More Time for Instruction The number one reason for lengthening the school day is to provide teachers with more time for instruction. When Friday rolls around each week during the school year, many parents face the same situation. If a student lives an hour outside of town and have an 8am school bell to meet, then theyre on the bus at 7am. . 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). 2. Shorter work weeks can improve employment productivity and provide families with more meaningful time together. It is also possible for schools to extend the school day in more districts across the country. The ability to express oneself via electives can make children happier and more cooperative in the classroom. The districts on the 4-day school week are finding it easier to recruit for the staff they need because they offer the prospect of a 3-day weekend during the school year. A small portion of the districts cash is saved, but not as much as intangibles. 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. They dont usually run wild on the last day of school, instead working, making phone calls, or spending time with family. Does this sound exciting and rich with possibilities? The standard requirement for schools is 180 days or an average range of 990-1080 hours. One school said that they have saved a teacher in diesel fuel costs (chiaramonte 2 ). 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. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, rendering the additional class time unproductive. Does time of day affect student learning? Those human beings that seem larger than life and almost achieve Godlike status. Does precision really make a program successful? That also makes scheduling problematic for many families. 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. 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. 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). Students in the third through sixth grades have improved their ACT scores, according to studies. All rights reserved. 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. After physical activity, children with or without ADHD appear to perform better at attention, memory, and mood. Budgetary requirements are an important part of a longer school days pros and cons list. But others are worried about when kids should be in school. 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. Rural families experience the greatest impacts from the 4-day school week. Read the Full Transcript Judy Woodruff: For many American students and. 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. Granby School District in Colorado shifted to a 4-day schedule for their 1,100 students. In comparison to 2007, the number of public schools that offer year-round programs has increased by 26%. 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. Those against extended lunches might argue . Con: A longitudinal study in New Mexico looked at the performance difference in K-3 students from seven different school districts. 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. 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. Florida's inflation-adjusted education spending per student has roughly doubled in the last 30 years -- to $7,473 in 2000-01. 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. 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. Here are some additional key points to think about when looking at the pros and cons of a 4-day school week. Teachers will have more leisure time to spend with their family as a result of the reduced school days. 1. If so, keep reading. Administrative staff are required to be on-site, sports Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. The shorter the school day, the better? A poll where 2,700 random people were polled about 67% favoured a 4 day school week(university of Scranton). I believe that if we go to a four day school week that it would help the kids physically, mentally, and financially. 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. 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. Students can adjust to the new schedule.
What Happened To Marzetti Potato Salad Dressing, Wausau Daily Herald Obituaries, Is Dakota Johnson Left Handed, Spanish Vegetable That Makes You Poop Fat, Eagles Practice Squad Roster, Articles P