Why should schools have 4-day weeks? (2023)

Why should schools have 4-day weeks?

What are the benefits of a four-day school week? School districts switch to a shorter school week for three main reasons: to save money that they can invest in instructional support and staff retention, to improve student attendance, and to recruit and retain teachers by offering them an extra day out of the classroom.

Why should school only be 4 days a week?

Proponents of a four-day school week argue that it offers several benefits, including cost savings, improved student attendance and increased teacher morale. By reducing the number of school days, schools can save money on transportation, food and energy costs.

Is a four day school week the answer in improving education?

At first blush, a 2022 study of the effects of shortened school schedules in 12 states seems pretty bleak. Nationwide, researchers found significantly lower math and English/language arts achievement at schools using four-day weeks during the time period from 2009-2018 than in schools using a traditional schedule.

Why 5 days of school is better than 4?

Even if they might not be able to fully articulate their emotions, children share our sentiments towards inconsistency. Coming to school five days per week provides the best consistency and routine for children, which we believe is fundamental to strong development at this early, formative age.

Why should school be less than 5 days a week?

Shortening the school day could give kids and teens more time for movement, brain breaks, and other activities proven to boost learning outcomes among other benefits. With more opportunities to move around and worry less about following classroom rules, kids could be better prepared to focus when it counts.

Why the school day should be shorter?

If school days were shorter, students could focus more intensely during their classes and spend time outside school on work and things they enjoy. For example, shorter school days would provide more time to do homework.

What are the benefits of 4 day school week research?

Proponents of the schedule claim that it improves school climate and student behavior, but the evidence is mixed. In support of the claim, research shows the four-day week significantly reduces high school bullying and fighting incident rates and increases the amount of sleep elementary students get.

What are the benefits of longer school days?

An expanded school schedule engages students more fully, and children learn better in a more stimulating environment. By reducing the pressure on the system to cram math and reading and science into too few hours, the new school day opens up the schedule for subjects that students enjoy and teachers like to teach.

Why should school be 3 days a week?

Proponents contend that the shorter school week can save money and improve student attendance. It can also help with recruitment and retention of teachers by offering them an extra day off each week, a benefit that has been particularly important to many school administrators.

Is a 4 day school week good or bad?

But now seven newer studies generally find negative results – some tiny and some more substantial. One 2021 study in Oregon, for example, calculated that the four-day week shaved off one-sixth of the usual gains that a fifth grader makes in math, equal to about five to six weeks of school.

What are the disadvantages of longer school days?

Longer school days could result in attention deficit and fatigue, making the extra class time ineffective. When students are too tired or mentally exhausted to concentrate, the last hour of the day becomes useless.

What states have 4 day school weeks?

What States Have Four-Day School Weeks? Several states have introduced four day school weeks, including Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Oklahoma, and Oregon. In fact, 60 percent of Colorado's districts and around 40 percent of New Mexico and Oregon's districts have implemented a four-day school week.

Does 4 day school week decrease bullying?

Results indicate that four-day school weeks decrease per-pupil bullying incidents by approximately 31% and per-pupil fighting incidents by approximately 27%, but have no detectable effect on other incident types, ACT scores, or attendance.

Why do we only get 2 days off school?

The extra learning time — two days during winter break — was created as a back-up strategy after the teachers union pressured the school system to scrap a plan that would have made it harder for families to opt out.

Why is Montessori 5 days a week?

Since the primary goal of Montessori involves creating a culture of consistency, order, and empowerment, most Montessori schools will expect children to attend five days a week. Even if a program does offer less than 5 days per week select 5 days because in the long run it will be more beneficial for your child.

What are the facts about 4 day school weeks?

The four-day week is enormously popular among parents and students, the new research finds. It typically saves districts a small—but not intangible—amount of cash. And on their day out of school, students are typically working, doing errands, or spending time with family, not running wild.

What are the pros and cons of longer school days?

How long should the school day be?

First through third graders are required to have only four hours and 40 minutes of instructional time per day. It's five hours for grades four to eight, and six hours for high schoolers. School districts are free to do more. But given funding challenges, they rarely can.

What is the shortest day of school?

Finland's education is ranked among the best in the world at number three, so starting with Finland's school schedule is a no-brainer. Typically, the Finnish school day starts anywhere from 9 to 9:45 a.m., and students typically spend only about five hours a day in the classroom.

Is a longer school day better?

No Direct Correlation Between Longer Days and Higher Achievement. While studies have found that longer instruction time can improve achievement, the correlation is not exact and depends on other factors, such as classroom environment, quality of instruction, and student ability.

Why is a school day so long?

Prepares Students For The Future

Extending the school day helps students prepare for their expectations when they graduate and join the workforce. The current six-and-a-half-hour day was structured around students having to leave school and work on their families' farms and ranches at the end of the day.

What is the idea of a 4 day week?

The idea is simple – employees would work four days a week while getting paid the same and earning the same benefits, but with the same workload. Companies reducing their workweek would therefore operate with fewer meetings and more independent work.

Why students should have Fridays off?

Being able to have three days to relax and get caught up with homework would help students be less stressed and be more prepared on Monday. If we participated in having only four days, it would also help our school with having an even amount of A and B days instead of having an extra day of a class in a week.

Why should kids go to school for 4 days?

Less time with students in school could cut down on hours for teachers (hopefully retaining teachers long term). Other obvious benefits include additional "free" time for students to pursue their interests, work on extracurricular activities, or even allow them time to work at a part-time job without burning out.

Why school should only be 3 days a week?

Kids Should go to School Only 3 Days a Week By carl

More and more students don't get enough rest from school. For one reason, they get too much homework and too many assignments. Secondly, they'll have time to review assignments. Lastly, they can be prepared and ready and not have to be stressed out.

Do Japanese students go to school 6 days a week?

The school year in Japan begins in April and classes are held from Monday to either Friday or Saturday, depending on the school. The school year consists of two or three terms, which are separated by short holidays in spring and winter, and a six-week-long summer break.

Why should kids go to school everyday?

You're getting prepared for life.

These are definitely skills that will serve you in college and the workforce. There is an expectation that you show up for work every single day and that you are prepared. Your thirteen years of school are helping you master these skills like a true boss!

Why should schools have Friday off?

Without schools on Fridays, students could study what they want when they want. GPAs will increase with a well-balanced education. There will be less failing classes as an overall. Usually teachers provide students with a lot of schoolwork that can be completed upon thorough studying.

Why should school days be long?

An expanded school schedule engages students more fully, and children learn better in a more stimulating environment. By reducing the pressure on the system to cram math and reading and science into too few hours, the new school day opens up the schedule for subjects that students enjoy and teachers like to teach.

Are Texas schools going to 4 days a week?

As of March 2023, almost 60 school districts across Texas have implemented a four-day week, while several have turned to a hybrid schedule by offering the four-day week only for part of the year. The changes come as teachers have reported increased burnout, low pay, higher stress, and less safety and security.

How to not go to school for a week?

When you want to avoid school, faking an illness is an effective way to stay out of the classroom. The success of your scheme depends largely on the illness you decide to fake. Choose an illness that has to “run its course” and has relatively easy symptoms to feign, like the flu or a headache.

How many minutes is a school day?

Education Code Section 48663(a) states that the 360 minute minimum school day applies to every school day. There is no option for a shorter day. Breaks, recess and lunch are not included in the instructional minutes.

What state has the longest school year?

Kansas requires 186 school days, while Illinois and North Carolina mandate 185 school days. These states have slightly longer academic years compared to the majority. On the other hand, some states have fewer required school days.

How long is school in America?

Prior to higher education, American students attend primary and secondary school for a combined total of 12 years. These years are referred to as the first through twelfth grades.