Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. 4. Schools can save up to 20% on some budget-line expenses with a 4-day week. Pros And Cons Of A Four-Day School Week - The Odyssey Online Employment opportunities with a 3-day weekend are increasing. Since the approach to curriculum development and pedagogical style varies by state and district, data must be disaggregated to evaluate specific impact. Here are a few: 1. There are approximately 300 children enrolled in California Elementary School under the age of eight. The length of the school day in China varies from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. With a shortened school day, the amount of instructional time would be reduced. For others, perhaps not. After analyzing Colorado schools operating on four-day school weeks, (Dam) reports that transportation costs can be reduced by 20%. The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. (Solution). Additionally student involvement and safety would suffer. Should the school week be shortened to 4 days? - Wise-Answer Public school everything for schoolchildren and students. A new educational model could be implemented: 9-to-5 schools. A switch to a 4-day schedule gives teachers more time to use teaching styles that are more effective. Increases student attendance. Extending the school year may help make teaching a full-time, more lucrative profession for educators if year-round schools can cut costs through . not just on the weekdays when students were out of school. But you see with shorter school days youd have more spare time to complete school work. 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. Their students were more focused because they were more rested, which equated to fewer classroom disruptions. Such as emotional and behavioral problems, violence, depression, alcohol use, impaired cognitive function, etc. Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. Bisbee Unified School District (AZ) saved $154,000, Duval County Public School (FL) saved $7 million, and Lake Superior School District (MN) $200,000. In the United States, the average school day is around six and a half hours long. Spread the loveBuilding a culturally responsive classroom is hard. Pros & Cons of Longer School Lunches | livestrong A small portion of the districts cash is saved, but not as much as intangibles. This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and. 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. Saving on utilities school buses, and long term building wear and tear. 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. One internet search reveals a wealth of opinions on both sides of the issue, and each argument sheds light on the topic. A change in schedule is an adjustment for school officials, students and families. 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. School days shorter? - The STEAM Press You wont have to run the electricity or pay for buses. Black Boys in Crisis: Why Arent They Reading? When larger school districts attempt this kind of schedule, they find few, if any, benefits coming from their actions. Teachers are frequently overworked and required to perform tasks that are outside their job description. Most students in the four-day districts80 percent of high school students and 90 percent of elementary studentsspent their "off day" at home. Do 4-day school weeks positively affect student outcomes? What are the Pros and Cons of 4-Day School Weeks? Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Mass., has risen from a Level 5 to a Level 1 after implementing extended learning time. If no other elements are in place, it is highly unlikely that extending the school day would result in increased student learning. Cons: The obvious reason for not shortening school days is the lack of learning time. The school districts in New Mexico are one of the best examples of this benefit. Find out about families that swap a shorter summer break for learning time that's more continuous. The Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative has already benefited 19 schools and over 10,000 students. Finally, shorter school days could result in less time for extracurricular activities, which could have a negative impact on student morale. Which one is the best? List of the Major Cons of a 4-Day School Week 1. It is possible to have a negative impact on some laboratory classes by reducing the number of minutes in class each day. In Lexington, Oregon, Morrow County was able to save about $250,000 their first year, but out of a budget of $14 million. Some districts have seen their disciplinary issues decline by more than 70% in the first two years of implementing a 4-day schedule. The program not only saves districts money, but it also allows students to spend more time with their families. Spread the loveWe all have our heroes. 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. Another potential drawback is that shorter school days could lead to more after-school activities, which could be a problem for working parents. Pros and Cons of a Longer School Day | GoStudent | GoStudent Spread the loveThe International Baccalaureate Program is a very intensive pre-college program in which when students get involved, they get college credit. The Oakridge School District in Oregon reported that their test scores improved when they shifted to this alternative schedule as well. 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. Year-Round Or Traditional Schedule? - Public School Review The Rochester City Council established the Extended Learning Time initiative as part of Rochesters ongoing commitment to education. 10 Longer School Days Pros and Cons - Vittana.org If so, keep reading. Delaying school start times will assist students in developing the skills required to reach their full potential. The National School Board Association estimates that approximately 135,000 guns are brought to America's 85,000 public schools each day. That is because larger districts offer more activities, manage more student events, and operate essentially 7 days per week during the school year anyway. In Colorado, 31 of the states 176 school districts are currently using a 4-day school week. What are the pros and cons for students, teachers and school boards? Longer school days may have some positive impact on student achievement, but research on their effects is lacking. manageable in a myriad of ways. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Spread the loveThis program assesses 15-year-old students schooling in countries that form part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. That also makes scheduling problematic for many families. Con: Not all students need one-on-one assistance, and some may even experience boredom or burnout from the extended school day. 6-7. In Alabama, the school year lasts 180 days and the school day lasts 7.03 hours. At the same time, the constant back-and-forth for students limits the amount of fun they can have. 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. This provided the teacher with more freedom with curriculum and time management. Adds flexibility to teachers schedules. 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. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less . Do students learn better in shorter classes? Does precision really make a program successful? Practices for sports are still held on the fifth day, as are teacher conferences, staff development opportunities, and required janitorial work. 10 Main Pros and Cons of 4 Day School Weeks - Green Garage Rural school districts find the greatest benefit in this area. What Grades Is Elementary School? Since an entire day is cut off the week, that extra time needs to be made up during the remaining four days. After-school activities begin at that point, which means some students dont make it back home until 8pm that night. Students attending a 4-day school schedule may have requirements for their education that fall outside of the normal work schedule for their parents. Sara Blackwell teaches Employment Law at University of South Florida in Tampa and she is a published author. The capital, insurance, maintenance, and administrative costs remain relatively constant. 12 Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week - Vittana.org Changing school start times will increase attendance and money brought in. School districts consider shorter school days for several reasons, including saving money and providing students the ability to participate in more extracurricular activities. Schools across the country offer extended learning hours. Some educators believe that extending the school day until 5:00 p.m. is the answer. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. In 4. They can explore and discover various hobbies and interests, maintain their stress levels and get more sleep. This has been a hot topic especially the states that dont have as large of an economy. Shortening the school day by even an hour or two can allow a district to save dramatically on its utility costs. The University of New Mexico Newsroom: Research Study Yields Unexpected Conclusion About Longer School Years. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students to take care of their personal property? A 4 day work week would promote an equal workplace as employees would be able to spend more time with their families and better juggle care and work commitments. Are shorter school days better? - Global Answers Four day school weeks are becoming a necessity for some rural school districts that lack funding. Why School Days Should Be Shorter? (Solution) - Public school The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days. Savings on school buses and long-term building wear and tear have also been reported. 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. 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. 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. As with any innovation, shorter workweeks have advantages and disadvantages. The benefits of going to a 4-day week for schooling is that it offers teachers and students an additional day for rest every week. Over the course of their first year on this new schedule, they reported that the frequency of discipline referrals for their students dropped by 73%. 2. An understandable concern for parents, teachers, and students about the 4-day school week is the extended time required to be at school during the day. Overall, there are pros and cons to shorter school days. Other schools are worried about academic performance. The driving force behind the proposal to lengthen the school day is the assertion that more instructional time would yield greater academic gains. In the standard 5-day school week, sports practices occur after school. (Question). Ages. configuration, but nine districts were actually spending more. It starts too early, ends too late, and occurs far too often. 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). Dr. Meier is is a regular contributor for The Equity Network and has worked in education for more than 30 years. 5. They can supervise their children at the bus stop in rural districts as well. Some schools do not allow recess to be used as punishment, while others may do so on a case-by-case basis. Long school days, on the other hand, can present some challenges and, at the very least, unsatisfactory outcomes. (Lewis) In Bonneville, Idaho the school started later in the day which resulted in absences dropping 15%. The Pros and Cons of Year-Round Schools - Scholastic Most school districts are sticking to the 5-day schedule. Pro: An extended school day provides more time for students to learn and the possibility of providing individualized attention for students in need. How do longer school days affect students? The kids groan, complain about getting out of bed, and struggle to get through the morning routine. We can all agree that school feels like it lasts forever. When a school opts to go with an early start time, then students are spending less time sitting in traffic as they head to class. . 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. The four-day week did not appear to affect. This added Research has shown that in this configuration, students who are low-income, minority, or special needs dont fare too well academically. From Disabled and $500k in Debt to a Pro Blogger with 5 Million Monthly Visitors, 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week, 21 Best SMART Goals Examples for Teachers and Educators, "From Disabled and $500k in Debt to a Pro Blogger with 5 Million Monthly Visitors. What they discovered was unexpected. There are a few reasons why shorter school days could be beneficial. Delaying school start times is associated with a decrease in bedtimes and an increase in sleep for every minute the school day is delayed. 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. Why should school weeks be shorter? Kids that go to schools with the 4-day week are often happier, stay happy throughout the school year, and look forward to going to school each day. With the 4-day schedule, another 1.5 hours is added to their school day, every day. Most parents have employment which requires them to be present for 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. Opportunity to relax and really immerse yourself in the experience. 2. When shifted to a 4-day school week, they reported that they were forced to focus on instruction much more than they had previously. 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. One issue that schools face today is what kind of school schedule there should be throughout the year. Money is saved on that day because they don't have to run lights, heater or AC. The Pros and Cons of a Four-Day School Week - ThoughtCo The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. Even the cost savings of a total shift to a 4-day schedule may be minimal. Spread the loveThis term describes a manner of classifying gifted students to place them in properly segmented classrooms. It would also be beneficial to reduce the week in order to promote activity participation. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? the traditional 5th day. 5. Pros & Cons of Lengthening the School Day - Synonym Shorter School Days Are the Way - The Oarsman Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less time to participate in extracurricular activities. The Cons. We call for a relatively radical and certainly quite comprehensive reorganization of Americas P-20 system. Each community has unique needs which must be met, so there is the possibility of a 4-day week being useful to some districts, but not others. Pros Vs. Cons of Extended School Days - The Classroom The four-day week, according to the research, is far more cost-effective than the traditional five-day week. That reduces the effective time they would have for homework once they actually make it home. The four-day school is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the U.S. There is a variety of emotional and behavioral problems, depression, alcohol use, and impaired cognitive function that can contribute to this. Some districts take just one week off at Christmas instead of two weeks because of these conflicts. Does this sound exciting and rich with possibilities? Shorter class durations allow students to enroll in a variety of courses. Students have more time outside of school to focus on other important aspects of their lives. Year-round education (YRE) is being considered or adopted by some districts. Very Costly. If she is not receptive to your suggestions, you may want to get a doctors note stating that recess is required. Four day school weeks have been discussed by many schools, and some schools already have them. Although the final outcome was beneficial the origins of the extended day was not welcomed. School districts save money. 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 who attend year-round school have the same number of school days as their counterparts following a traditional schedule. Con: School districts across the U.S. are struggling to make ends meet. Spread the loveApplying for admission to professional and graduate schools is no less competitive than college/undergraduate admissions.