Because of this, school districts dont have a hard "I get really tired throughout the day and I would love shorter school hours." You wont have to run the electricity or pay for buses. on those days off. Required fields are marked *, on Why School Days Should Be Shorter? 4 Day School Week Pros and Cons. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. According to a Center for American Progress study, traditional school schedules are out of sync with the current economic environment. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. It is important to consider all of the factors before making a decision. districts think they will save tons of money by cutting operational costs on 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. 3. Students spend less time on the bus. Compacting school into just four days a week leaves more time for kids to spend with family, friends and outside interests. When Friday rolls around each week during the school year, many parents face the same situation. I am glad that you asked. A new educational model could be implemented: 9-to-5 schools. 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. Most students in the four-day districts80 percent of high school students and 90 percent of elementary studentsspent their "off day" at home. Research has shown that in this configuration, students who are low-income, minority, or special needs dont fare too well academically. disabled students may also find it difficult to participate in extracurricular activities and socialise with their peers. the traditional 5th day. The decision to implement such a schedule must therefore be handled at the local level. How Would Later School Start Times Affect Sleep? What we envisage may not be the most straightforward or the most conventional ideas. 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. In general, taking away recess as punishment may be seen as unfair or too harsh, especially for young children. Other pros and cons exist in the school lunch debate. The four-day week, according to the research, is far more cost-effective than the traditional five-day week. Suffolk Public Schools went with a 7:25 am start time for their district and are saving almost $700,000 per year. In comparison to 2007, the number of public schools that offer year-round programs has increased by 26%. 5. When I was a teacher, many moons ago, this was a fringe schooling schedule only practiced by rural school districts. When teachers operate under time constraints, in high-pressure situations, then they typically default to a lecture-based teaching style. The school districts in New Mexico are one of the best examples of this benefit. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. For others, perhaps not. Saving on utilities school buses, and long term building wear and tear. This is one reason school districts use to implement dress codes. 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. That means the average cost, per student, is about $700. First, it would give students more time to focus on their homework and studies outside of school. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. 1. Most parents have employment which requires them to be present for 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. 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. A 4-day school week is misleading. Taking only one class is practically a . Four Day School Week: The Pros And Cons - HonorsGradU 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. Rural areas report that their student attendance has increased since switching to the 4-day school week. 6 Benefits of Shorter School Days | Should There Be a Change? - ID Tech Dr. Kelly Meier earned her doctorate from Minnesota State Mankato in Educational Leadership. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, rendering the additional class time unproductive. Your email address will not be published. 1. They also said students can gain more time for fun and still receive an excellent education. The Edvocate was created in 2014 to argue for shifts in education policy and organization in order to enhance the quality of education and the opportunities for learning afforded to P-20 students in America. According to The Notebook, longer school days add to low energy and exhaustion. Cons of a Longer School Day Does Not Ensure Higher Achievement Some studies have been done that show that longer instruction time can improve achievement, but those results depend on things like classroom environment, quality of instruction, student prior knowledge and ability. Delaying school start times will assist students in developing the skills required to reach their full potential. Approximately 1,800 schools in the U.S. have extended learning hours, but there are many pros and cons of extended school days. There will be days, even with the best efforts of everyone involved, where a student is stuck with an after-hours activity, deep into the night, after being in class for most of the day. Pro: Education is a priority, and funding should not hold back efforts to provide more effective academic preparation for students. These school districts are typically in isolated regions, are rural, and have a student body that is fewer than 500 students. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less . This occurs because a large number of students are moving around the school campus. (5) Most costs that were reduced were Operations and maintenance, heating and cooling, janitor supplies. The pros and cons of schools ditching a long summer break Students in a 4-day school week are packing 180 days into a condensed 145-day schedule. This schedule works much better for parents, who often have that working schedule themselves. In the 4-day school week The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. 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A low income school in New Haven, Connecticut started the new year telling students they would be attending school until 4:15 P.M. four days a week. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. Schools benefit from shorter school day - Chapin Chronicle She is the author and co-author of 12 books and serves as a consultant in K-12 and higher education. The districts on the 4-day school week are finding it easier to recruit for the staff they need because they offer the prospect of a 3-day weekend during the school year. The Benefits of Shorter School Days | Case Study Template What are the pros and cons for students, teachers and school boards? In the United States, about 50% of all companies are either offering or thinking about offering a 4-day workweek for their workers. That means the students in those districts have better opportunities to learn. Other Debates. 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. Teachers can use more time in the day to go on field trips or expand content areas. Imagine a school year that gave the students one week off after every quarter and every Friday off. Students feel less pressure because they have more time to study at their own pace at home, especially in the later grades. Childrens schooldays should be around 8 hours long, and they should be school-aged all year. There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district. 15 Major Pros and Cons of Early School Start Times 3. If a student lives an hour outside of town and have an 8am school bell to meet, then theyre on the bus at 7am. If so, keep reading. The Alaska school year averaged about 180 days in length, and the school day was 6.48 hours long. Some are facing the debate about whether to keep standardized tests or not. Shorter school days should be utilized in the U.S. education system as it comes with many benefits. It is possible to have a negative impact on some laboratory classes by reducing the number of minutes in class each day. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? Does time of day affect student learning? According to him, providing education to all would be beneficial to society. We call for a relatively radical and certainly quite comprehensive reorganization of Americas P-20 system. When implemented, however, 1st graders do just as well as teens with the expanded schedule and 3-day weekend. The Pros and Cons of a 4-Day Week for Employers & Employees During class time, young kids who are too exhausted to concentrate or perform well may experience tiredness or fall asleep. The requirements for total education time do not change just because a school district goes to a 4-day school week. List of the Advantages of 4-Day School Weeks 1. 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. School administration, associates with principal office also went down. As a result, kids will be less worried about time management and will be less likely to fall behind on such rewarding activities. How To Switch School Districts Without Moving? Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. It is also possible for schools to extend the school day in more districts across the country. 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? remediating them begin to take a bite out of the budget. Spread the loveThis program assesses 15-year-old students schooling in countries that form part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In New Mexico, 18 of the states 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. Easier to recruit employees. One is that students might not have enough time to receive all the instruction they need in a particular subject. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days. Third, shorter days could reduce the amount of time that students spend on the bus or in the car, which would save money and reduce pollution. There are approximately 300 children enrolled in California Elementary School under the age of eight. flexibility is why they are such staunch proponents of the 4-day school schedule. It lists the advantages of the four-day model as: Improved morale and fewer absences: A shorter working week leads to less burnout, making staff happier and more focused in . Why Should School Days Be Longer? (Best solution) Spread the loveBeing a teacher is a tough job. 4. Less time in school could allow students the freedom to discover other interests that are fulfilling and stimulating. 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. 6. Arguments For and Against Longer School Years - Poynter It is also good for teachers and the whole school. The Chattooga County School District reported similar results from their trial with this schedule as well. But others are worried about when kids should be in school. Finally, teachers and students would have better relationships as they spend more time together instead of being rushed. 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. It has been so problematic that in Colorado, some urban districts which switched to a 4-day school week have gone back to the traditional scheduling instead. The Pros and Cons of the Four-Day School Week - LINQ 1. 4. 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. 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. It also means that they would have more time to mark the voluminous quantity of homework that they have to complete every night. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools. There are potential savings to food programs and other important areas of infrastructure because the school district is closed 1 additional day each week. Next, parents would not have to get day care except on Fridays instead of the whole summer. 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). Administrative staff are required to be on-site, sports 2. 4 Day School Week Statistics: Pros and Cons Debate - CreditDonkey If no other elements are in place, it is highly unlikely that extending the school day would result in increased student learning. How does it impact your success? Shorter work weeks can improve employment productivity and provide families with more meaningful time together. The Pros and Cons of Longer vs. Shorter Trips. 2. As a result, students dont have to miss school to help out. Do students learn better in shorter classes? Some research indicates there may be slight academic benefits to extending the school day. It changes the holiday schedules for the school district. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. 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. Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. Younger people shouldn't have to work as long as some adults do. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less time to participate in extracurricular activities. Employment opportunities with a 3-day weekend are increasing. But just because the final bell rang doesnt mean that youre done. Some districts have seen their disciplinary issues decline by more than 70% in the first two years of implementing a 4-day schedule. 4 Day School Week? What to Know | 2023 4 Test Prep - Teacher Certification Kids already spend a very long time each week in the school and away from their family. Custer School District, in rural South Dakota, believed they could save $70,000 with a 4-day school week. 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. It can help teachers and students better manage the process of learning. Parents can drop-off their kids in the morning, then pick them up in the afternoon, without worrying about work. Those changes happen because students who are active participants in their learning have more fun in school. After analyzing Colorado schools operating on four-day school weeks, (Dam) reports that transportation costs can be reduced by 20%. The move toward a shorter workweek is gaining momentum.