Extending the school day is a hot topic for educational policy making bodies. Changing the system could result in many more. Rural school districts find the greatest benefit in this area. Teachers are attracted by the prospect of having a shorter work week. Home Pros and Cons 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week. The schools who did switch the expenses reduced by 20%, transportation would reduce also by 20%, and the average district could have saving of 5.43% total budget. I say this because we would have to start. There should be year round schooling because it can help students learn more and forget less, other classes are included and childcare is provided, teachers get more time to plan and teach lessons. If you are arrested for spanking your child, you may face charges of assault, battery, child abuse, or domestic violence. 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. Your email address will not be published. Dr. Meier is is a regular contributor for The Equity Network and has worked in education for more than 30 years. When Friday rolls around each week during the school year, many parents face the same situation. Would a later school schedule be beneficial? flexibility to teachers schedules and as a result, makes their jobs more Shorter school weeks or longer school days are reasonable solutions when there is a shortage of funding, or possible budget cuts coming to the school district. After-school jobs are a common way for teens to make money. This could be especially true for students who are struggling in a particular subject or for students who have a lot of homework. When shifted to a 4-day school week, they reported that they were forced to focus on instruction much more than they had previously. Required fields are marked *, on Why School Days Should Be Shorter? 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. Additional costs savings from a shorter day include less . 4 Day School Week Pros and Cons. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? It can help teachers and students better manage the process of learning. Shorter School Days Are the Way. When students are too tired or mentally exhausted to concentrate at the end of the day, the last hour becomes meaningless. After 12 hours of being away from home, students struggle to find time to study during the 4-day school week. 2. This may not seem like a lot, but when you factor in homework and after-school activities, it can be a lot for a student to handle. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to each. 3. . The requirements for total education time do not change just because a school district goes to a 4-day school week. It matches the class schedule to a parent's work schedule. How a shorter school day affects students - articledocument.com Imagine a school year that gave the students one week off after every quarter and every Friday off. First, it would give students more time to focus on their homework and studies outside of school. For some, a 4-day week makes perfect sense. One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. Money is saved on that day because they don't have to run lights, heater or AC. 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. It almost forces some families into taking their vacation time from work during these holidays to accommodate the needs of their children. Sometimes even starting school earlier in the . 1. One of the primary reasons why school districts, especially rural districts, save money when they shift to a 4-day schedule is because there are fewer transportation costs. Obesity, anxiety and stress, as well as lower grades, can all be attributed to a lack of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. In general, ELT has received positive feedback; however, some schools have had more difficult transitions than others. Students follow the same type of pattern. 19 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of the 4 Day School Week 4 Day School Week? What to Know | 2023 4 Test Prep - Teacher Certification 4. Sometimes, schools are forced to travel during the school week to play some games or attend certain events. As a result, learning is less effective due to budget constraints. (Question). Those changes happen because students who are active participants in their learning have more fun in school. 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. 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. It would also be beneficial to reduce the week in order to promote activity participation. Sara Blackwell teaches Employment Law at University of South Florida in Tampa and she is a published author. There are a few reasons why shorter school days could be beneficial. The Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative has already benefited 19 schools and over 10,000 students. Should school hours be shorter? It is a program for mostly rural and small school districts. Students who attend year-round school have the same number of school days as their counterparts following a traditional schedule. Here are some additional key points to think about when looking at the pros and cons of a 4-day school week. 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. Others believe that lengthening the school day is an expensive endeavor that wont yield substantial results. The average national cost that schools need to pay for each students bus transportation is $459. The evaluated skills include science, math, and reading. Most schools, when Year Round Schooling: Should it Be Implemented? Younger people shouldn't have to work as long as some adults do. A new educational model could be implemented: 9-to-5 schools. (Solution). Thats two hours of lost time for farm chores, homework, or other responsibilities that rural families have more often than urban or suburban families. More time to focus on mental health In the typical K-12 schooling model, mental health education is too often shunted aside. Pros and Cons of a Longer School Day | GoStudent | GoStudent The only question is does it hurt students education but the statistics are showing that is clearly not the case one bit. Going to the 4-day schedule can create scheduling conflicts with other districts, particularly with sporting events, performances, and groups like 4-H. A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. 2. In the Article by Lisa Lewis, it also talks about how delaying school by 1 hour produces the same benefit as shrinking class size by one-third or replacing a teacher in the 50th percentile of effectiveness with one in the 84th percentile.(Lewis). The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. Teachers in Seattle are deciding how to use an additional 20 minutes on top of the usual school day. 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. Pros and cons of shorter work weeks. Find out about families that swap a shorter summer break for learning time that's more continuous. The 180-day calendar is shorter than that of other industrialized countries, and some schools even find ways to shave days even further. Since many of the families in these areas run farms, it gives families extra time to get work done during the week. Some school districts have reported saving But slowly over the nation, schools are switching to a four day school week. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. 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. 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. School days shorter? - The STEAM Press What are the Pros and Cons of 4-Day School Weeks? Better Employee Engagement A 4 day week can lead to happier and more committed employees. 1. That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. This schedule cycles consistently throughout the year while making minor adjustments for major holidays and teacher workdays. The school day was originally created to meet the needs of farmers. More teaching: Covid-19 has resulted in a lot of disruption in teaching. However, disabled students often face additional challenges in accessing education and achieving academic success. 1. Such as emotional and behavioral problems, violence, depression, alcohol use, impaired cognitive function, etc. A three-day weekend allows for extra leisure time, as well as a reduction in commute and energy usage. Additionally student involvement and safety would suffer. The ability to offer a 3-day weekend, every weekend, is a powerful motivator for school districts that are recruiting for quality employees. These are the key points that must be addressed first. 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. According to new research, the four-day week is a popular way for parents and students to spend quality time together. There can be no one answer to this question because it is a matter of case by case. Those that had implemented the alternative scheduling found that student attendance could rise by more than 20. It involves increasing communication and various forms of interaction between people of different nations, ethnicities and cultures. Spread the loveUsually, people are under the wrong impression that geography does not offer many job opportunities, and there are no jobs for a geographer. 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. Here are a few: 1. Certain activities or games should be prohibited (for an indefinite period of time). 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. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students to take care of their personal property? On the plus side, employees love it. The decision to implement such a schedule must therefore be handled at the local level. They can supervise their children at the bus stop in rural districts as well. The school districts in New Mexico are one of the best examples of this benefit. Savings on school buses and long-term building wear and tear have also been reported. Easier to recruit employees. 12 Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week (2023) 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of 4 Day School Weeks The very thought of sending kids to school year-round makes some parents cringe. The majority of these are found in the western United States, including Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, and Oklahoma, Thompson said. In Lexington, Oregon, Morrow County was able to save about $250,000 their first year, but out of a budget of $14 million. Those against extended lunches might argue . 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. 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. 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. Spread the loveFor the past few decades, our countrys educational system has seen both struggle and tremendous change. 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 Pros and Cons of a 4-Day Week for Employers & Employees What Are the Pros of a Longer School Day? 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. Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades. 12 Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week - Vittana.org 1. 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. Research has shown that in this configuration, students who are low-income, minority, or special needs dont fare too well academically. Colorado has nearly three-quarters of its school districts on a four-day schedule. When larger school districts attempt this kind of schedule, they find few, if any, benefits coming from their actions. They dont usually run wild on the last day of school, instead working, making phone calls, or spending time with family. What are the advantages and disadvantages of including issues such as child care? Students already feel like their school day is too long. 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. Student performance may improve with a 4-day school week. If so, keep reading. After analyzing Colorado schools operating on four-day school weeks, (Dam) reports that transportation costs can be reduced by 20%. Some research indicates there may be slight academic benefits to extending the school day. I am glad that you asked. How To Switch School Districts Without Moving? The Benefits of Shorter School Days | Case Study Template Teachers will have more leisure time to spend with their family as a result of the reduced school days. 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. 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. In the United States, about 50% of all companies are either offering or thinking about offering a 4-day workweek for their workers. Saving on utilities school buses, and long term building wear and tear. One of the primary motivations for adopting the four-day week is financial savings for the school district. So what are the pros and cons of 4-day school weeks? The standard requirement for schools is 180 days or an average range of 990-1080 hours.
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