19 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of the 4 Day School Week Year-round education (YRE) is being considered or adopted by some districts. In Lexington, Oregon, Morrow County was able to save about $250,000 their first year, but out of a budget of $14 million. Students will have extra time outside of school to devote to other essential elements of their life as a result of this change. 4. After-school jobs are a common way for teens to make money. The Rochester City Council established the Extended Learning Time initiative as part of Rochesters ongoing commitment to education. The National School Board Association estimates that approximately 135,000 guns are brought to America's 85,000 public schools each day. What they discovered was unexpected. 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. The pros and cons of schools ditching a long summer break Longer school days may have some positive impact on student achievement, but research on their effects is lacking. disabled students may also find it difficult to participate in extracurricular activities and socialise with their peers. . The University of New Mexico Newsroom: Research Study Yields Unexpected Conclusion About Longer School Years. The school districts may operate classes Monday-Thursday on a 4-day week (or Tuesday-Friday in some instances), but they are still operational from an administrative standpoint on the off-day. These are more reasons CHS should move to a four day school week. It is possible to have a negative impact on some laboratory classes by reducing the number of minutes in class each day. On top of that, you will likely only be taking 1-2 classes at a time instead of four or more. Adds flexibility to teachers schedules. 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? 2023 The Black Well Firm. Older students can spend time engaging in resum-building public service or paid work. Very Costly. Your email address will not be published. Teachers in Seattle are deciding how to use an additional 20 minutes on top of the usual school day. 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. Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. The schedule change also shifted how teachers assigned homework, making it more efficient and focused. To see how shorter school days hurt both teachers and students, we need to look at a major structural change in education. 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. Does time of day affect student learning? For the Cove School District in Eastern Oregon, the school day begins at 8am and doesnt end until 4pm. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week - BrandonGaille Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? This means students in a district with this alternative schedule get out later for the holidays than students on the traditional Monday-Friday schedule. 5. Recent survey findings show that four-day school weeks have been adopted as a way to alleviate budgetary issues, attract teachers, and reduce student absencesissues that the pandemic . Data is an important variable if youre considering the longer school days pros and cons list. Younger people shouldn't have to work as long as some adults do. Over the course of a 2-year period on this alternative schedule, they reported up to a 20% increase in student attendance. Other schools are worried about academic performance. 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. Four-Day School Week Overview - National Conference of State Legislatures It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. Too Early to Tell Ages. If no other elements are in place, it is highly unlikely that extending the school day would result in increased student learning. Students already feel like their school day is too long. If something goes wrong . As a result, students dont have to miss school to help out. To compare, a regular semester generally lasts 16-18 weeks. Pros and cons of a four day working week. Traditional vs. Adds flexibility to teacher's schedules. Longer school days make no sense when there is so much else we could be doing with our time. the fifth day, but they forget, they will still be open and running activities Finally, teachers and students would have better relationships as they spend more time together instead of being rushed. It is critical to avoid producing a longer school day and instead produce a healthier, more balanced, and more engaging one. Children need the opportunity to rest and re-energize, and theyre often overextended with activities, homework and part-time jobs. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. 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 capital, insurance, maintenance, and administrative costs remain relatively constant. More rest then equates to dealing with less stress over the course of a school year. 6-7. They also said students can gain more time for fun and still receive an excellent education. In the standard 5-day school week, sports practices occur after school. Additional costs savings from a shorter day include less . Five-day schools still have the edge in many districts Despite the fact that many districts have seen their test scores make a substantial leap, there are some five-day schools that are still outpacing them academically. 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. But slowly over the nation, schools are switching to a four day school week. 12 Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week - Vittana.org Just 11 of the districts had enrollments of more than 1,000 students. If so, keep reading. Schools are facing many issues today. That means the average cost, per student, is about $700. Pros & Cons of Longer School Lunches | livestrong Does this sound exciting and rich with possibilities? Budgetary requirements are an important part of a longer school days pros and cons list. Long school days can cause eating problems for students who don't eat at school, or who use up all their energy while learning. 4-day school weeks: Educational innovation or detriment? - Brookings The organization 4 Day Week Global sponsored the program. Children have a six-week summer break and ten days of off every 45 days of class. teams may need to practice, professional development sessions may convene, etc. There are approximately 300 children enrolled in California Elementary School under the age of eight. Certain activities or games should be prohibited (for an indefinite period of time). The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. Spread the loveThis term describes a manner of classifying gifted students to place them in properly segmented classrooms. Student performance may improve with a 4-day school week. A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. Many break times have been incorporated in the calendar, such as morning recess, afternoon recess, snack time, and so on. This can be due to a lack of accessible facilities and resources, or negative attitudes and misconceptions from teachers and classmates. When implemented, however, 1st graders do just as well as teens with the expanded schedule and 3-day weekend. School districts consider shorter school days for several reasons, including saving money and providing students the ability to participate in more extracurricular activities. The move toward a shorter workweek is gaining momentum. Schools across the country offer extended learning hours. Colorado, juvenile crime increased by 73% whenever a school changed their Other Debates. manageable in a myriad of ways. flexibility to teachers schedules and as a result, makes their jobs more Increases student attendance. Students are still getting the same amount of instruction in terms of minutes, just in a shorter number of days. 15 Major Pros and Cons of Early School Start Times 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. The idea has been to cut hours while keeping pay the same. 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. Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. The 180-day calendar is shorter than that of other industrialized countries, and some schools even find ways to shave days even further. Pros and cons of dropping out of school - Pros an Cons When students are too tired or mentally exhausted to concentrate at the end of the day, the last hour becomes meaningless. 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 Pros And Cons Of Shorter School Days - 1283 Words | Bartleby 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. List of the Advantages of 4-Day School Weeks 1. Students can adjust to the new schedule. What we envisage may not be the most straightforward or the most conventional ideas. They may also experience irritability and fatigue. 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. Here are a few: 1. This occurs because a large number of students are moving around the school campus. Second, it would allow students to get more sleep, which is important for their health and well-being. Why is year round school better? Explained by Sharing Culture 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. The Pros and Cons of a Four-Day School Week - ThoughtCo 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. Some schools do not allow recess to be used as punishment, while others may do so on a case-by-case basis. Con: A longitudinal study in New Mexico looked at the performance difference in K-3 students from seven different school districts. These are the key points that must be addressed first. 4-Day School Weeks Are on the Rise - What Are the Pros and Cons? It is a program for mostly rural and small school districts. It is important to consider all of the factors before making a decision. This could be especially true for students who are struggling in a particular subject or for students who have a lot of homework. Longer school days would provide students with more time to focus on core subjects or classes where they need more instruction, which would be a huge benefit. Easier to recruit employees. They saved 1.4%, or $45,000, instead. We were able to build a strong community and school consensus as a result of our programs success. 2. 2. Approximately 1,800 schools in the U.S. have extended learning hours, but there are many pros and cons of extended school days. Along with giving kids more time to concentrate on critical activities, a shortened school day would also provide pupils with more opportunity to relax. Since an entire day is cut off the week, that extra time needs to be made up during the remaining four days. The average national cost that schools need to pay for each students bus transportation is $459. Students in a 4-day school week are packing 180 days into a condensed 145-day schedule. In the 4-day school week Florida's inflation-adjusted education spending per student has roughly doubled in the last 30 years -- to $7,473 in 2000-01. It also means that certain holiday vacations, such as Thanksgiving, are extended to a full week, and that can be a scheduling concern for many families. New Haven teachers in an unprecedented move allowed their teacher unions to take over the rewriting of their contracts. Schools may even have to purchase lights for after school activities. The Cons. Cons of the 4-Day School Week. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. A longer school day would involve substantial funding for teacher salaries and facility maintenance. Why Should School Days Be Longer? (Best solution) Some research indicates there may be slight academic benefits to extending the school day. Getting to school on-time or making it out for the bus is a constant battle. But the extra money hasn't gone into teachers' salaries, which have dropped on average from . Spread the loveBuilding a culturally responsive classroom is hard. They dont usually run wild on the last day of school, instead working, making phone calls, or spending time with family. The average time for school that is scheduled in a 4-day week is either 7:30am-5pm or 8am-5:30pm. 6. Pros and Cons of a Shorter Workweek. 6. They found out that seven school districts saved money under the new They need a shorter school day so they can have more time to relax and play. recess has numerous benefits, including assisting students in reducing aggression and improving learning. Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. In some situations, a single teacher may be responsible for over 100 students. The four-day week, according to the research, is far more cost-effective than the traditional five-day week. Pros and Cons of a Longer School Day | GoStudent | GoStudent 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. You are more likely to face poverty: those who drop out of school without any plans, stare at poverty in the face without the option of getting out of it. 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. I am glad that you asked. In the United States, only five states require recess in elementary schools, with Texas not one of them. Why School Days Should Be Shorter? (Solution) - Public school Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. Parents can drop-off their kids in the morning, then pick them up in the afternoon, without worrying about work. 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. When Friday rolls around each week during the school year, many parents face the same situation. In addition, they are given a week off for major holidays and 2 weeks of summer vacation at their parents discretion. This added Students spend less time on the bus. These school districts are typically in isolated regions, are rural, and have a student body that is fewer than 500 students. One issue that schools face today is what kind of school schedule there should be throughout the year. 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 Oakridge School District in Oregon reported that their test scores improved when they shifted to this alternative schedule as well. Do 4-day school weeks positively affect student outcomes? That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. 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. Our general school hours run from 9 am - 2 pm, with extra . The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. There are various school days in the United States. The Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative has already benefited 19 schools and over 10,000 students. A change in schedule is an adjustment for school officials, students and families. In return, the number of disciplinary measures can also be reduced. The school day had to accommodate available daylight and the requirements of helping with the family farm. 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. Obesity, anxiety and stress, as well as lower grades, can all be attributed to a lack of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. An eight-hour day is pretty undesirable for elementary-aged kids. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. In order to squeeze the regular five-day workload into four days, it would necessitate the closure of vital services on that additional day and the lengthening of working days on the other days. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days. It also means that they would have more time to mark the voluminous quantity of homework that they have to complete every night. 1. Revisiting Using Edtech for Bullying and Suicide Prevention. A 4-day school week is misleading. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round School for Kids - Verywell Family It is also possible for schools to extend the school day in more districts across the country. Pro: An extended school day provides more time for students to learn and the possibility of providing individualized attention for students in need. According to author accounts, teachers and students suffer as a result of recess being taken away as a punishment for behavior. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. This issue occurs at all grade levels. More than 80% of people in the UK would prefer a four day working week, according to a survey in 2021 by recruitment company Reed. However, there are advantages and disadvantages associated with shortening the school day that should be considered before sweeping action is taken to alter the traditional school day. According to new research, the four-day week is a popular way for parents and students to spend quality time together. 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. Unbiased Longer School Days Pros and Cons | Navajo Code Talkers The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools - Scholastic What's the Difference Between Burnout and Demoralization, and What Can Teachers Do About It? Pros And Cons Of A Four-Day School Week - The Odyssey Online on those days off. 2. 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. Oklahoma Department of Education examined the economic effect of going to a The Agrarian calendar is rooted in the past. The Alaska school year averaged about 180 days in length, and the school day was 6.48 hours long. configuration, but nine districts were actually spending more. According to Adam Urbanski, president of the Rochester Teachers Association, there is no guarantee that popularity will be replicated in other schools. Even the cost savings of a total shift to a 4-day schedule may be minimal. 1. Many schools are, in fact, offering year-round services now to accommodate the changing needs of their communities. (Question). 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. 5. Accidents, absences, and absences all fall on the decline, and students academic performance rises. Year-Round Or Traditional Schedule? - Public School Review Additional learning time as well as improved schedule alignment would make the lives of families noticeably more pleasant. Disadvantage: Less time for extracurricular activities. In the United States, about 50% of all companies are either offering or thinking about offering a 4-day workweek for their workers. Shorter school days should be used in the United States education system since they have several advantages. A new educational model could be implemented: 9-to-5 schools. 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. 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. Spread the loveApplying for admission to professional and graduate schools is no less competitive than college/undergraduate admissions. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. (Lewis) In Bonneville, Idaho the school started later in the day which resulted in absences dropping 15%. This would help not only our school but also the parents if they cant afford the gas. One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. 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. 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. Spread the loveAfrican Africans have a long history of being mistreated in the United States, starting with slavery. The four-day school is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the U.S. In many US school districts, the first class begins 1-2 hours after most parents need to be at work. There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. Changing the times could increase attendance by 1%, which could bring in $40 million more. recess is not only ineffective but also harmful to students who may feel that the punishment is excessive. Shortening the School Day | Education - Seattle PI Instead, an investment should be made in improving teaching strategies and new technology that could transform the learning process. Staff recruitment is easier with the 4-day school week for school districts. In the United States, the average school day is around six and a half hours long. The shorter the school day, the better? That means the students in those districts have better opportunities to learn. List of Cons of Implementing 4-Day School Weeks 1. It can help teachers and students better manage the process of learning. There are potential savings to food programs and other important areas of infrastructure because the school district is closed 1 additional day each week. Some are facing the debate about whether to keep standardized tests or not. The Harvest times were set in the old way and still are when most school calendars are set up, when the United States was a farm country. 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. These crimes occurred all during the week, For others, perhaps not. Here are some additional key points to think about when looking at the pros and cons of a 4-day school week. Overall, there are pros and cons to shorter school days. Students attending a 4-day school schedule may have requirements for their education that fall outside of the normal work schedule for their parents. Increases student attendance. The standard requirement for schools is 180 days or an average range of 990-1080 hours. 3. Colorado has nearly three-quarters of its school districts on a four-day schedule. the traditional 5th day. They just dont have time to get everything done. When teachers are more effective and efficient, student performance follows a similar pattern. Would a later school schedule be beneficial? This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and. 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. 3. When it comes to school, we most likely understand what its like to go to school all year. Despite the fact that a few studies have recently been published, there is no significant research on the four-day school week. remediating them begin to take a bite out of the budget. 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.