Black Boys in Crisis: Why Arent They Reading? You should approach these strategies with your childs teacher instead of punishing him or her. When implemented, however, 1st graders do just as well as teens with the expanded schedule and 3-day weekend. One of the primary motivations for adopting the four-day week is financial savings for the school district. In YRE, the number of days in school equals the number of days in a calendar year (180 days). districts think they will save tons of money by cutting operational costs on 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. Teachers will have more leisure time to spend with their family as a result of the reduced school days. 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. Schools are facing many issues today. Spread the loveBuilding a culturally responsive classroom is hard. The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. 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. 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%. Administrative staff are required to be on-site, sports 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. Additional learning time as well as improved schedule alignment would make the lives of families noticeably more pleasant. There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. Pro: In 2004, the school day was lengthened for a Massachusetts school to address the issue of underperforming students. The idea has been to cut hours while keeping pay the same. If schools only had one day off per week, millions of dollars would be saved. Extending the school year may help make teaching a full-time, more lucrative profession for educators if year-round schools can cut costs through . Opportunity to relax and really immerse yourself in the experience. This got me thinking about the pros and cons of longer vs. shorter trips. But slowly over the nation, schools are switching to a four day school week. Granby School District in Colorado shifted to a 4-day schedule for their 1,100 students. Because of this, school districts dont have a hard Some students believe that having a four-day school week allows them to get more rest and to be in a less stressful atmosphere than they would otherwise have. Massachusetts, a pioneer in extended learning time (ELT), has made significant progress in this field. According to Adam Urbanski, president of the Rochester Teachers Association, there is no guarantee that popularity will be replicated in other schools. Lets take a look at some proof. 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 average time for school that is scheduled in a 4-day week is either 7:30am-5pm or 8am-5:30pm. Spread the loveEducation is a collaborative process, as it takes many stakeholders working in unison to help students succeed academically. For school districts struggling with funding issues, the potential savings here could save the budget. Data is an important variable if youre considering the longer school days pros and cons list. The University of New Mexico Newsroom: Research Study Yields Unexpected Conclusion About Longer School Years. Too Early to Tell She is the author and co-author of 12 books and serves as a consultant in K-12 and higher education. Students follow the same type of pattern. 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. That is because larger districts offer more activities, manage more student events, and operate essentially 7 days per week during the school year anyway. 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. Many school districts still operate Monday-Friday, even on a 4-day week. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, students are less active when they are not allowed to recess during the school day due to bad classroom behavior. When shifted to a 4-day school week, they reported that they were forced to focus on instruction much more than they had previously. 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. There is a variety of emotional and behavioral problems, depression, alcohol use, and impaired cognitive function that can contribute to this. Some schools do not allow recess to be used as punishment, while others may do so on a case-by-case basis. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students to take care of their personal property? In 2022, companies in the U.K., the U.S., and Canada instituted a four-day workweek pilot program to test the concept. What are the advantages and disadvantages of including issues such as child care? Very Costly. 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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. These are the key points that must be addressed first. How does it impact your success? Going to the 4-day schedule can create scheduling conflicts with other districts, particularly with sporting events, performances, and groups like 4-H. This would help not only our school but also the parents if they cant afford the gas. At the same time, teacher attendance rates also rose, which is a trend still seen in these districts, 20+ years later. The Agrarian calendar is rooted in the past. Shorter school days should be used in the United States education system since they have several advantages. But recently, there has been a move towards shorter weeks across the United States. Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? Employment opportunities with a 3-day weekend are increasing. 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? Students attending a 4-day school schedule may have requirements for their education that fall outside of the normal work schedule for their parents. Shorter School Days Are the Way. If something goes wrong . Other pros and cons exist in the school lunch debate. 1. 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. One school said that they have saved a teacher in diesel fuel costs (chiaramonte 2 ). Con: School districts across the U.S. are struggling to make ends meet. Data from the National Association of Year-Round Education . (Lewis) In Bonneville, Idaho the school started later in the day which resulted in absences dropping 15%. 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. These schools save all this money from just switching to a shorter week. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. If so, keep reading. 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. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. Student performance may improve with a 4-day school week. Some of the pros of year-round schooling include: 1 . Changing the Moniteau County R-1 School districts schedule to a four-day week would be detrimental to students safety and involvement in activities. Next, parents would not have to get day care except on Fridays instead of the whole summer. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. Rural families experience the greatest impacts from the 4-day school week. Dr. Meier is is a regular contributor for The Equity Network and has worked in education for more than 30 years. Should the school day start later pros and cons? This schedule works much better for parents, who often have that working schedule themselves. Many recommend that teens get at least eight hours of sleep to feel well rested and . Most schools, when Year Round Schooling: Should it Be Implemented? (Question). Anticipated savings are in transportation, food and food service workers, hourly workers and utilities. 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. 1. We must ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn by improving the effectiveness of our schools and ensuring that all children have access to them. How To Switch School Districts Without Moving? 2. They found out that seven school districts saved money under the new by elenam112 states This means the school would be open longer, resulting in larger electrical and heating bills. Schools would need to stay open later at night for after school activities and stay open early in the morning for students who are dropped off early. 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. They can explore and discover various hobbies and interests, maintain their stress levels and get more sleep. There were also reduced sick days requested by their teaching staff. In Peetz Colorado a debate is going on four a four day school week. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools. The Chattooga County School District reported similar results from their trial with this schedule as well. Some school districts have reported saving Copyright (c) 2023 Matthew Lynch. Schools can save up to 20% on some budget-line expenses with a 4-day week. It involves increasing communication and various forms of interaction between people of different nations, ethnicities and cultures. When I was a teacher, many moons ago, this was a fringe schooling schedule only practiced by rural school districts. Another potential drawback is that shorter school days could lead to more after-school activities, which could be a problem for working parents. The Cons. This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and. Shorter work weeks can improve employment productivity and provide families with more meaningful time together. Four day school weeks are becoming a necessity for some rural school districts that lack funding. Some educators believe that extending the school day until 5:00 p.m. is the answer. Con: A longitudinal study in New Mexico looked at the performance difference in K-3 students from seven different school districts. 2. So what are the pros and cons of 4-day school weeks? There are many changes with switching the school 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. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days. Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Elizabeth Perle 1). The program not only saves districts money, but it also allows students to spend more time with their families. Additionally student involvement and safety would suffer. Older students can spend time engaging in resum-building public service or paid work. Spread the loveThis program assesses 15-year-old students schooling in countries that form part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 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. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. Potential for juvenile crime to increase. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. What Are the Pros of a Longer School Day? 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 . 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. One issue that schools face today is what kind of school schedule there should be throughout the year. Special correspondent Lisa Stark of Education Week reports on the pros and cons for students, families and schools. Games occur in the evening, often on the weekend. The four-day week did not appear to affect. It requires longer 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). The four-day week, according to the research, is far more cost-effective than the traditional five-day week. Over the next three years, the school district was able to save 2% on their overall costs each year, for a total of $200,000. Certain activities or games should be prohibited (for an indefinite period of time). 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. Florida's inflation-adjusted education spending per student has roughly doubled in the last 30 years -- to $7,473 in 2000-01. 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. Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades. Those against extended lunches might argue . The Rochester City Council established the Extended Learning Time initiative as part of Rochesters ongoing commitment to education. Spread the loveThe International Baccalaureate Program is a very intensive pre-college program in which when students get involved, they get college credit. From the moment you walk into the second you walk out. However, these basics vary, depending on a company's policy. Overall, a shorter school schedule resulted in a 7% increase in math scores and a 3% gain in reading. 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. It provides a realistic way for schools to remain open and also has added benefits beyond saving money. Easier to recruit employees. There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district. Some are even cutting arts programs or shortening the school week to balance the budget. In the United States, about 50% of all companies are either offering or thinking about offering a 4-day workweek for their workers. In the 4-day school week Cons of the 4-Day School Week. 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. There are 21 states that have four-day school districts. Pros and Cons of a Shorter Workweek. You still have to go to practice, and dont forget the piles of homework that need done. 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. If so, keep reading. 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. This has been a hot topic especially the states that dont have as large of an economy. But others are worried about when kids should be in school. 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. 6. As a result, kids will be less worried about time management and will be less likely to fall behind on such rewarding activities. The average national cost that schools need to pay for each students bus transportation is $459. 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. All rights reserved. 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. Students already feel like their school day is too long. 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. Finally, teachers and students would have better relationships as they spend more time together instead of being rushed. . 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. That may mean reducing Spring Break to 2 days instead of having the entire week off. Less time in school could allow students the freedom to discover other interests that are fulfilling and stimulating. Schools are able to switch to a four-day week by simply increasing the length of their school day. The length of the school day in China varies from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. With a shortened school day, the amount of instructional time would be reduced. Rural school districts and small school districts benefit the most from a 4-day schedule because of their natural isolation. Students are still getting the same amount of instruction in terms of minutes, just in a shorter number of days. The current school schedule is a major downgrade from the 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM distance learning schedule. In addition, they are given a week off for major holidays and 2 weeks of summer vacation at their parents discretion. Changing the system could result in many more. The schedule forces teachers to spend small blocks of time on specific topics without really being able to dig into in-depth issues. When larger school districts attempt this kind of schedule, they find few, if any, benefits coming from their actions. More rest then equates to dealing with less stress over the course of a school year. 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. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, rendering the additional class time unproductive. 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. 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. One way to address these issues is to shift the traditional school schedule into a 4-day week. If practicums can be included with small group discussions, the retention rate can top 90% for some students. The decision to implement such a schedule must therefore be handled at the local level. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. It changes the holiday schedules for the school district. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? Other Debates. In New Mexico, 18 of the states 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. Staff recruitment is easier with the 4-day school week for school districts. 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! 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. 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. Defining Moments Are What Make Good School Leaders Great, Year-Round Schooling: How it Affects Students, Why you need a multi-tiered behavioral support approach, Understanding Strategy and Strategic Leadership, Teaching & Learning Strategies, Concepts, and Terms That Every Teacher Must Know: Letters DIA-DIG, First-Year Teachers: 4 Reasons You Need a Mentor Right Now, 18 Reasons the U.S. Education System is Failing, The Top 5 Unexpected Benefits of Early Childhood Education. Spread the loveTeachers need to realize that at home, in their neighborhoods, and in school, many students face difficulties that can interfere with learning. As a result, students dont have to miss school to help out. Who Sang For Troy In High School Musical? The capital, insurance, maintenance, and administrative costs remain relatively constant. 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. Children have a six-week summer break and ten days of off every 45 days of class. That also means some families, with children who are old enough, can eliminate daycare expenses completely with this type of scheduling option. Every community has their own unique requirements that must be addressed by school scheduling. According to the findings, relocating some math classes to the morning and other subjects, such as English, to the afternoon might result in an increase in students GPAs and test outcomes. The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. Year-round schooling has been proposed as a better option for students than a traditional 9-month schedule. All of these consequences just because nobody wants to shorten the school day. . It is critical to avoid producing a longer school day and instead produce a healthier, more balanced, and more engaging one. Schools across the country offer extended learning hours. Small group learning with discussion, for example, increases the information retention rate for students up to 80%. Our individualized learning setup at the Tenney School allows us to offer more instruction in a shorter amount of time. manageable in a myriad of ways. In general, taking away recess as punishment may be seen as unfair or too harsh, especially for young children. Accidents, absences, and absences all fall on the decline, and students academic performance rises. It's almost the end of the first semester, and realizations are starting to set in. Although the final outcome was beneficial the origins of the extended day was not welcomed. For some, a 4-day week makes perfect sense. Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. It is possible to have a negative impact on some laboratory classes by reducing the number of minutes in class each day. Other schools are worried about academic performance. This leads to added costs that some families, living paycheck to paycheck, may not be able to afford. Advantages Of Five Day School Week Traditional Five Day Class Week Should be Resumed Samantha, a freshman college student taking up Bachelor of Science in Nursing, values her education so much. Teachers are frequently overworked and required to perform tasks that are outside their job description. They also said students can gain more time for fun and still receive an excellent education. New Haven teachers in an unprecedented move allowed their teacher unions to take over the rewriting of their contracts. Adds flexibility to teachers schedules. NEA Today: A 9 to 5 School Day: Are Longer Hours Better for Students and Educators? Since many of the families in these areas run farms, it gives families extra time to get work done during the week. That can make it difficult for some students to pay attention to the information being provided. According to a Center for American Progress study, traditional school schedules are out of sync with the current economic environment. There are various school days in the United States. But the extra money hasn't gone into teachers' salaries, which have dropped on average from . 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. But just because the final bell rang doesnt mean that youre done. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. Savings on school buses and long-term building wear and tear have also been reported. There is no one answer to this question as every disabled students experience is unique. For others, perhaps not. Colorado, juvenile crime increased by 73% whenever a school changed their The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. 3. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. 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. Home Pros and Cons 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week. Staying at school for the majority of the day isn't allowing me . 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. The driving force behind the proposal to lengthen the school day is the assertion that more instructional time would yield greater academic gains.