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. Anticipated savings are in transportation, food and food service workers, hourly workers and utilities. 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 Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. Rural families experience the greatest impacts from the 4-day school week. That reduces the effective time they would have for homework once they actually make it home. School districts consider shorter school days for several reasons, including saving money and providing students the ability to participate in more extracurricular activities. Older students can spend time engaging in resum-building public service or paid work. 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. It starts too early, ends too late, and occurs far too often. In addition, they are given a week off for major holidays and 2 weeks of summer vacation at their parents discretion. As a result, kids will be less worried about time management and will be less likely to fall behind on such rewarding activities. Although families benefit from the 3-day weekend and those scheduling benefits, the non-traditional time off given to students can offset some of that savings. There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. Suffolk Public Schools went with a 7:25 am start time for their district and are saving almost $700,000 per year. We call for a relatively radical and certainly quite comprehensive reorganization of Americas P-20 system. What Grades Is Elementary School? Other popular year-round schedules are the 60-20 and 90-30 calendars, where students are in class for 60 or 90 days with vacations of 20 or 30 days respectively. Over the last century, humans have acquired a staggering amount of knowledge and understanding. I say this because we would have to start. Many recommend that teens get at least eight hours of sleep to feel well rested and . The ability to express oneself via electives can make children happier and more cooperative in the classroom. Since many of the families in these areas run farms, it gives families extra time to get work done during the week. When looking at the benefits of a longer school year, the opportunity for expanding subject matter and the individualized needs of students are factors. Students can adjust to the new schedule. After-school activities begin at that point, which means some students dont make it back home until 8pm that night. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days 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. 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. This issue occurs at all grade levels. Overall, a shorter school schedule resulted in a 7% increase in math scores and a 3% gain in reading. Shortening the School Day | Education - Seattle PI 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. 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. That means one of the biggest expenses for the district is immediately cut by 20%. 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. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days. A three-day weekend allows for extra leisure time, as well as a reduction in commute and energy usage. 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. This has been a hot topic especially the states that dont have as large of an economy. 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. Why Should School Days Be Longer? (Best solution) Many school districts still operate Monday-Friday, even on a 4-day week. Students feel less pressure because they have more time to study at their own pace at home, especially in the later grades. About 20% of the states school districts incorporate a 4-day schedule of some kind. 12 Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week (2023) 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. 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). Students attending a 4-day school schedule may have requirements for their education that fall outside of the normal work schedule for their parents. Since the approach to curriculum development and pedagogical style varies by state and district, data must be disaggregated to evaluate specific impact. They argue that playing with classmates helps children develop social skills. Ages. Along with giving kids more time to concentrate on critical activities, a shortened school day would also provide pupils with more opportunity to relax. Companies have been experimenting with shorter work days for at least a decade and, despite announcements that the 40-hour week is dead, there have been mixed results from the experiments. 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%. Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Student performance may improve with a 4-day school week. Getting to school on-time or making it out for the bus is a constant battle. Copyright (c) 2023 Matthew Lynch. This occurs because a large number of students are moving around the school campus. Children have a six-week summer break and ten days of off every 45 days of class. The schedule change also shifted how teachers assigned homework, making it more efficient and focused. flexibility to teachers schedules and as a result, makes their jobs more 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. Students spend less time on the bus. 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. 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. Are shorter school days better? - Global Answers This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and. The University of New Mexico Newsroom: Research Study Yields Unexpected Conclusion About Longer School Years. In this article, we will examine this question in depth. 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. Longer school days may have some positive impact on student achievement, but research on their effects is lacking. 3. Custer School District, in rural South Dakota, believed they could save $70,000 with a 4-day school week. List of the Advantages of 4-Day School Weeks 1. Younger people shouldn't have to work as long as some adults do. Pros and cons of dropping out of school - Pros an Cons The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. There are a few potential drawbacks to shorter school days. Our general school hours run from 9 am - 2 pm, with extra . If so, keep reading. Pros and cons of school dress code | University News 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. Most parents have employment which requires them to be present for 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. Longer school days make no sense when there is so much else we could be doing with our time. Savings on school buses and long-term building wear and tear have also been reported. 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They also said students can gain more time for fun and still receive an excellent education. 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. 6-7. It was a kneejerk response to dwindling education budgets and the belief that schools could save a ton of money by operating Monday through Thursday, which in theory would lower their operating expenses. This would help not only our school but also the parents if they cant afford the gas. It matches the class schedule to a parent's work schedule. There are 21 states that have four-day school districts. In-depth consultation between all constituents reveals the pros and cons of extended school days. Florida's inflation-adjusted education spending per student has roughly doubled in the last 30 years -- to $7,473 in 2000-01. His conclusion was that the best way to solve poverty was to educate the children in public schools. Extending the school day is a hot topic for educational policy making bodies. 18 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of the Payback Period, 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing a Car, 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Financing, 24 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of a C Corporation, 16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Mediation, 18 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Gated Community, 17 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Focus Groups, 17 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporate Bonds, 19 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Annuities, 17 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Advertising. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. So much so, many new teachers end up leaving the field within their first three years. Pros and Cons of Year-Round School - American University Rural areas report that their student attendance has increased since switching to the 4-day school week. Do students learn better in shorter classes? 1. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. 2. Increase Engagement and Productivity. 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. Every community has their own unique requirements that must be addressed by school scheduling. It is critical to avoid producing a longer school day and instead produce a healthier, more balanced, and more engaging one. disabled students may also find it difficult to participate in extracurricular activities and socialise with their peers. 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. In Peetz Colorado a debate is going on four a four day school week. There is no one answer to this question as every disabled students experience is unique. The Rochester City Council established the Extended Learning Time initiative as part of Rochesters ongoing commitment to education. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days - Walden University 1. What Are the Pros of a Longer School Day? 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. School administration, associates with principal office also went down. They found out that seven school districts saved money under the new Dr. Kelly Meier earned her doctorate from Minnesota State Mankato in Educational Leadership. Since an entire day is cut off the week, that extra time needs to be made up during the remaining four days. This schedule cycles consistently throughout the year while making minor adjustments for major holidays and teacher workdays. Unbiased Longer School Days Pros and Cons | Navajo Code Talkers not just on the weekdays when students were out of school. Read the Full Transcript Judy Woodruff: For many American students and. Would a later school schedule be beneficial? Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? In many US school districts, the first class begins 1-2 hours after most parents need to be at work. They balk at the idea of kids attending schools with no summer break. For others, perhaps not. Year-Round Or Traditional Schedule? - Public School Review 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. Advantage: More time for other subjects. Pros and Cons of a Shorter Workweek. The only question is does it hurt students education but the statistics are showing that is clearly not the case one bit. Sometimes, schools are forced to travel during the school week to play some games or attend certain events. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less . 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. 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. 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. Schools would also have to change their bus transportation systems which are designed to run as efficiently and inexpensively as possible. 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. On the plus side, employees love it. There is the possibility of making up for lost time, especially those who are at a disadvantage due to the digital divide. The school days are spread more evenly over the year, with more frequent short breaks and the absence of a 10-12 week summer break. But the extra money hasn't gone into teachers' salaries, which have dropped on average from . 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. The majority of these are found in the western United States, including Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Oklahoma, Thompson said. 1. When teachers are more effective and efficient, student performance follows a similar pattern. When I was a teacher, many moons ago, this was a fringe schooling schedule only practiced by rural school districts. Students who attend year-round school have the same number of school days as their counterparts following a traditional schedule. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. 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. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. In 1995, 84 school districts were studied that had already implemented a 4-day school week. Students that sit in lecture classrooms retain 10% or less of the information that is presented to them. Some research indicates there may be slight academic benefits to extending the school day. Administrative staff are required to be on-site, sports Pros and cons of shorter work weeks - Royal Examiner Small group learning with discussion, for example, increases the information retention rate for students up to 80%. 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. Sometimes even starting school earlier in the . Our individualized learning setup at the Tenney School allows us to offer more instruction in a shorter amount of time. One is that students might not have enough time to receive all the instruction they need in a particular subject. Even the cost savings of a total shift to a 4-day schedule may be minimal. districts think they will save tons of money by cutting operational costs on Teachers will have more leisure time to spend with their family as a result of the reduced school days. The list just gets longer. For the parents of younger students, an additional full day of daycare may need to be scheduled every week instead of a partial day. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less time to participate in extracurricular activities. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, making the additional class time inefficient. the traditional 5th day. There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on student's math and reading scores. It is possible to have a negative impact on some laboratory classes by reducing the number of minutes in class each day. Saving on utilities school buses, and long term building wear and tear. 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 . 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). 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. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days. That is because larger districts offer more activities, manage more student events, and operate essentially 7 days per week during the school year anyway. 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. 4-Day School Weeks Are on the Rise - What Are the Pros and Cons? The very thought of sending kids to school year-round makes some parents cringe. If you ask the average kid what they think about school, youll get a very honest answer: Its boring. From K-12, it can be difficult for students to stay engaged in the classroom during a 5-day school week. Instead, an investment should be made in improving teaching strategies and new technology that could transform the learning process. After 12 hours of being away from home, students struggle to find time to study during the 4-day school week. 4 Day School Week? What to Know | 2023 4 Test Prep - Teacher Certification After-school jobs are a common way for teens to make money. If so, keep reading. This got me thinking about the pros and cons of longer vs. shorter trips. 6. This added How a shorter school day affects students - articledocument.com So what are the pros and cons of 4-day school weeks? Other pros and cons exist in the school lunch debate. I am glad that you asked. She studies hard, does her research and assignments, and goes to class every single day. 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. The final class ends 1-2 hours before the work day ends for most parents. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. Extended School Year Pros & Cons | GEDDES - raymondgeddes.com These are more reasons CHS should move to a four 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. Rural school districts find the greatest benefit in this area. Potential for juvenile crime to increase. Childrens schooldays should be around 8 hours long, and they should be school-aged all year. Students will have extra time outside of school to devote to other essential elements of their life as a result of this change. Teachers can use more time in the day to go on field trips or expand content areas. 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. Some schools do not allow recess to be used as punishment, while others may do so on a case-by-case basis. Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. 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. By having more instruction in class, students can not only get better test scores, but they can also get better grades. What are the Pros and Cons of 4-Day School Weeks? 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. The four-day school is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the U.S. . At the same time, the constant back-and-forth for students limits the amount of fun they can have. The districts which offer the 4-day work week receive more applications and more qualified applicants than the other school districts. The trade-off for a shorter week is a longer school day. Shifting to this schedule does have certain disadvantages, especially for working parents. 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. From the moment you walk into the second you walk out. Some of the pros of year-round schooling include: 1 . That means the average cost, per student, is about $700. More time to focus on mental health In the typical K-12 schooling model, mental health education is too often shunted aside. The pros of year-round school Eliminating any sort of long break from school can improve a child's academic achievement. The capital, insurance, maintenance, and administrative costs remain relatively constant. Cutting that by 20% means a savings of $4 billion, if implemented nationwide. According to The Notebook, longer school days add to low energy and exhaustion. Lets face it our best school memories arent from tests or pop quizzes. Parents can drop-off their kids in the morning, then pick them up in the afternoon, without worrying about work.
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