Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Mass., has risen from a Level 5 to a Level 1 after implementing extended learning time. Games occur in the evening, often on the weekend. Well, at least initially. 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. They found out that seven school districts saved money under the new Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Find out about families that swap a shorter summer break for learning time that's more continuous. According to a Center for American Progress study, traditional school schedules are out of sync with the current economic environment. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. When teachers operate under time constraints, in high-pressure situations, then they typically default to a lecture-based teaching style. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Copyright (c) 2023 Matthew Lynch. It might help school districts save money. Shorter school days should be utilized in the U.S. education system as it comes with many benefits. Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. The idea of having a four-day school has been around for several decades, and has been considered at least since the 1930s, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Changing the system could result in many more. 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. The only question is does it hurt students education but the statistics are showing that is clearly not the case one bit. 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. So what are the pros and cons of 4-day school weeks? Arlene Ackerman says she and her students don't have the strength to teach or learn near the end of the school day. School districts consider shorter school days for several reasons, including saving money and providing students the ability to participate in more extracurricular activities. A story on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's website said: 1. 3. More teaching: Covid-19 has resulted in a lot of disruption in teaching. 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. The four-day week did not appear to affect. There are a variety of health issues that can be caused by a lack of sleep. Some districts take just one week off at Christmas instead of two weeks because of these conflicts. Finally, teachers and students would have better relationships as they spend more time together instead of being rushed. Christmas and Spring holiday weeks may be extended as well. Traditional vs. Sports schedules are easier to manage. . Teachers would be required to reimagine their curriculum and would need extra time to develop a curriculum to fit an expanded day. Potential for juvenile crime to increase. If so, keep reading. Rural families experience the greatest impacts from the 4-day school week. Accidents, absences, and absences all fall on the decline, and students academic performance rises. In 1995, 84 school districts were studied that had already implemented a 4-day school week. With short school days, students can devote a fair share of time to other meaningful areas in their life, such as socializing and simply being a kid. According to The Notebook, longer school days add to low energy and exhaustion. Spread the loveThe Talent Search Initiative has as its aim; the identification of high-performing students by organizing specific tests. Saving on utilities school buses, and long term building wear and tear. But recently, there has been a move towards shorter weeks across the United States. What Grades Is Elementary School? 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. 3. Students in a 4-day school week are packing 180 days into a condensed 145-day schedule. 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. Spread the loveThe International Baccalaureate Program is a very intensive pre-college program in which when students get involved, they get college credit. One of the biggest concerns of a 4-day school week is the length of seat time that younger students must complete. It can help teachers and students better manage the process of learning. Those against extended lunches might argue . This is one of the strongest arguments in favour of a longer school day. It was suggested that a combination of four-week summer holidays and a school day finishing at 4:30pm would lead to improvements in pupil attainment. Next, parents would not have to get day care except on Fridays instead of the whole summer. In 1095or in 1905, depending on your sourcesRoberto Nevelis of Venice, Italy, is often credited with inventing the concept of homework. Although the final outcome was beneficial the origins of the extended day was not welcomed. There are approximately 300 children enrolled in California Elementary School under the age of eight. In general, taking away recess as punishment may be seen as unfair or too harsh, especially for young children. 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. In return, the number of disciplinary measures can also be reduced. 1. They may also experience irritability and fatigue. Out of a budget of $5.5 million, they saved $206,000. To compare, a regular semester generally lasts 16-18 weeks. 1. Shorter class durations allow students to enroll in a variety of courses. Should schools go to a 4 day school week instead of 5 days? What they discovered was unexpected. 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. flexibility is why they are such staunch proponents of the 4-day school schedule. It is critical to avoid producing a longer school day and instead produce a healthier, more balanced, and more engaging one. After 12 hours of being away from home, students struggle to find time to study during the 4-day school week. Budgetary requirements are an important part of a longer school days pros and cons list. (Question). Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. The kids groan, complain about getting out of bed, and struggle to get through the morning routine. Rural school districts and small school districts benefit the most from a 4-day schedule because of their natural isolation. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to each. These crimes occurred all during the week, That means one of the biggest expenses for the district is immediately cut by 20%. Practices for sports are still held on the fifth day, as are teacher conferences, staff development opportunities, and required janitorial work. 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. Very Costly. That is because larger districts offer more activities, manage more student events, and operate essentially 7 days per week during the school year anyway. Better Employee Engagement A 4 day week can lead to happier and more committed employees. The Cons. What are the advantages and disadvantages of including issues such as child care? That additional day can also be used for staff development time instead of taking away a school day to do so. A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. How does it impact your success? Does precision really make a program successful? The benefits are many. One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. The current school schedule is a major downgrade from the 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM distance learning schedule. According to him, providing education to all would be beneficial to society. 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. There are improvements in the school financially. Pros and Cons of a Shorter Workweek. This has been a hot topic especially the states that dont have as large of an economy. 3. Colorado, juvenile crime increased by 73% whenever a school changed their flexibility to teachers schedules and as a result, makes their jobs more 6. Shifting to this schedule does have certain disadvantages, especially for working parents. If practicums can be included with small group discussions, the retention rate can top 90% for some students. Shorter days can only be seen as a positive thing and would benefit students, teacher, and administrators. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. During recess, limit the number of games or activities that students can participate in. In 2022, companies in the U.K., the U.S., and Canada instituted a four-day workweek pilot program to test the concept. Some schools do not allow recess to be used as punishment, while others may do so on a case-by-case basis. Dr. Meier is is a regular contributor for The Equity Network and has worked in education for more than 30 years. 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. And the school districts in the state have stable student achievement levels on their standardized tests. 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. Children would get up early and help with chores, go to school and then help out on the farm until sundown. When I was a teacher, many moons ago, this was a fringe schooling schedule only practiced by rural school districts. The school day is too long. Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. Cons: The obvious reason for not shortening school days is the lack of learning time. As with any innovation, shorter workweeks have advantages and disadvantages. The Peach County School District in Georgia saw that their graduation rates slowly increased year after year when they switched to a 4-day school week. All of these consequences just because nobody wants to shorten the school day. 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. Advantage: More time for other subjects. 2. 5. When Friday rolls around each week during the school year, many parents face the same situation. Schools may even have to purchase lights for after school activities. 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. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, rendering the additional class time unproductive. 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. Having well-rested and happy employees can increase their overall work engagement and productivity. For the parents of younger students, an additional full day of daycare may need to be scheduled every week instead of a partial day. Dr. Kelly Meier earned her doctorate from Minnesota State Mankato in Educational Leadership. It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. Du Bois Essay Topics to Write about, Most Interesting Volvo Essay Topics to Write about, is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the U.S. Schools across the country offer extended learning hours. Many companies have found that when workers are able to work a schedule which suits their needs, letting them work how they like, then their workers are more productive. Increases student attendance. Custer School District, in rural South Dakota, believed they could save $70,000 with a 4-day school week. Pros of Year-Round School. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Signup for The Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in P-20 education news and opinion delivered to your email address! Does time of day affect student learning? Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on students math and reading scores. There are a few potential drawbacks to shorter school days. Sometimes, schools are forced to travel during the school week to play some games or attend certain events. If you are arrested for spanking your child, you may face charges of assault, battery, child abuse, or domestic violence. Some educators believe that extending the school day until 5:00 p.m. is the answer. The Trump Administrations Vindictive Attack On Federal Workers: The Shutdown Of The Office Of Special Counsel, Michigan State University College Of Law: A Top Law School, Why Union Safe Company Is The Best Choice For Protecting Your Home Or Business, The Life Of John Laurens: A Patriot Lawyer And Army Officer. It is critical to maintain a consistent schedule and not change it on a weekly basis in order to give students the best chance of success. If a longer lunch allows high school students to leave campus, they might opt for unhealthy fast-food options; on the other hand, this extended time might allow them to seek out healthier dishes than those available in the cafeteria. Schools would also have to change their bus transportation systems which are designed to run as efficiently and inexpensively as possible. Some research indicates there may be slight academic benefits to extending the school day. 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. The evaluated skills include science, math, and reading. . Shorter Classes: Depending on your school's summer schedule, you can complete a semester's worth of work in eight, five, or even three weeks. When looking at the benefits of a longer school year, the opportunity for expanding subject matter and the individualized needs of students are factors. 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. Longer school days may lead to attention deficit and fatigue, making the extra class time ineffective. It also means that they would have more time to mark the voluminous quantity of homework that they have to complete every night. 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. 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. They argue that playing with classmates helps children develop social skills. Older students can spend time engaging in resum-building public service or paid work. But just because the final bell rang doesnt mean that youre done. In 2006, a study by Yarbrough and Gilman found that teachers working in a 5-day school schedule reported that they have a lot of wasted time. The school day was originally created to meet the needs of farmers. Why weekends should be longer for students? Granby School District in Colorado shifted to a 4-day schedule for their 1,100 students. Changing the Moniteau County R-1 School districts schedule to a four-day week would be detrimental to students safety and involvement in activities. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days. Students in the third through sixth grades have improved their ACT scores, according to studies. The Chattooga County School District reported similar results from their trial with this schedule as well. 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. Other pros and cons exist in the school lunch debate. But you see with shorter school days youd have more spare time to complete school work. Do students learn better in shorter classes? This could be especially true for students who are struggling in a particular subject or for students who have a lot of homework. One way to address these issues is to shift the traditional school schedule into a 4-day week. 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. As a result, kids will be less worried about time management and will be less likely to fall behind on such rewarding activities. Easier to recruit employees. As a result, learning is less effective due to budget constraints. All rights reserved. From the moment you walk into the second you walk out. Students follow the same type of pattern. Programs like student tutoring or sports, teacher/parent meetings, staff development, and building maintenance still happen on the fifth day, which negates many of the cost-savings opportunities that the 4-day schedule appears to offer. Many say that the four day school week is good for students. 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. What are the pros and cons for students, teachers and school boards? The four-day school is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the U.S. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. Spread the loveBuilding a culturally responsive classroom is hard. (Solution). If so, keep reading. Examining the pros and cons of year-round school gives insight into why some education leaders push for its adoption while others argue for sticking to the traditional 10-month schedule. 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. In the United States, the average school day is around six and a half hours long. But slowly over the nation, schools are switching to a four day school week. If she is not receptive to your suggestions, you may want to get a doctors note stating that recess is required. The Alaska school year averaged about 180 days in length, and the school day was 6.48 hours long. But others are worried about when kids should be in school. The school districts in New Mexico are one of the best examples of this benefit. Because of this, school districts dont have a hard It is important to consider all of the factors before making a decision. The Melstone School District in Montana also shifted to a 4-day school week. That reduces the effective time they would have for homework once they actually make it home. These are more reasons CHS should move to a four day school week. Our general school hours run from 9 am - 2 pm, with extra . But the extra money hasn't gone into teachers' salaries, which have dropped on average from . Many of these districts are small and rural, such as Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. Getting to school on-time or making it out for the bus is a constant battle. You should approach these strategies with your childs teacher instead of punishing him or her. 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. Some school districts have reported saving The Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative has already benefited 19 schools and over 10,000 students. 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). 1. As a result, students dont have to miss school to help out. Alexander Alvarez, Reporter November 16, 2021. Easier to recruit employees. The schedule change also shifted how teachers assigned homework, making it more efficient and focused. Overall, a shorter school schedule resulted in a 7% increase in math scores and a 3% gain in reading. Extending the school days even longer would further cut into valuable time to bond with family. School districts save money. In the United States, $17.5 billion each year is spent on school bus transportation. 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In 2007-2008, the United States had an average school day of 6.64 hours per day, and an average school year of 180 days. If you want to avoid withholding recess as punishment, consider rewarding yourself rather than punishing yourself, such as rewarding yourself with extra recess for good behavior. There is no one answer to this question as every disabled students experience is unique. The average national cost that schools need to pay for each students bus transportation is $459. Working a couple of hours after school gains experience and disposable income. Your email address will not be published. It is encouraged for students to try new things in order to benefit from them. Pro: Education is a priority, and funding should not hold back efforts to provide more effective academic preparation for students. 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. In many cases, it is in the best interests of students to reduce costs and have minimal impact on instruction. When implemented, however, 1st graders do just as well as teens with the expanded schedule and 3-day weekend. Advantage: More time to devote to learning. You still have to go to practice, and dont forget the piles of homework that need done. 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. In New Mexico, 18 of the states 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. In Colorado, 31 of the states 176 school districts are currently using a 4-day school week. The. Overall, there are pros and cons to shorter school days. The decision to implement such a schedule must therefore be handled at the local level. Many school districts still operate Monday-Friday, even on a 4-day 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. These will be some pros of a four day school week. After-school jobs are a common way for teens to make money. Massachusetts, a pioneer in extended learning time (ELT), has made significant progress in this field.