NEA Today: A 9 to 5 School Day: Are Longer Hours Better for Students and Educators? 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. This got me thinking about the pros and cons of longer vs. shorter trips. Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? 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. In You still have to go to practice, and dont forget the piles of homework that need done. 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. For some, a 4-day week makes perfect sense. What's the Difference Between Burnout and Demoralization, and What Can Teachers Do About It? that the flexibility of the 4-day work week helps them get more done. 6. Rural school districts find the greatest benefit in this area. 2023 The Black Well Firm. Suffolk Public Schools went with a 7:25 am start time for their district and are saving almost $700,000 per year. In the 4-day school week Adds flexibility to teacher's schedules. Which one is the best? Next, parents would not have to get day care except on Fridays instead of the whole summer. We were able to build a strong community and school consensus as a result of our programs success. By having more instruction in class, students can not only get better test scores, but they can also get better grades. 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. by elenam112 states This means the school would be open longer, resulting in larger electrical and heating bills. Schools would need to stay open later at night for after school activities and stay open early in the morning for students who are dropped off early. As with any innovation, shorter workweeks have advantages and disadvantages. 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. As a result, kids will be less worried about time management and will be less likely to fall behind on such rewarding activities. 4. 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. The shorter the school day, the better? Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to encourage students to take care of their personal property? recess is not only ineffective but also harmful to students who may feel that the punishment is excessive. To be competitive in a global market, students need to be exposed to a wide variety of subject matter. When looking at the benefits of a longer school year, the opportunity for expanding subject matter and the individualized needs of students are factors. Long school days can cause eating problems for students who don't eat at school, or who use up all their energy while learning. There is no one answer to this question as it can depend on individual circumstances. These crimes occurred all during the week, If so, keep reading. The pros of year-round school Eliminating any sort of long break from school can improve a child's academic achievement. Teachers report This schedule cycles consistently throughout the year while making minor adjustments for major holidays and teacher workdays. Pro: Education is a priority, and funding should not hold back efforts to provide more effective academic preparation for students. A small portion of the districts cash is saved, but not as much as intangibles. Some of the pros of year-round schooling include: 1 . Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to help students who cannot fasten their own clothes? What are the pros and cons of longer school days? Research has shown that in this configuration, students who are low-income, minority, or special needs dont fare too well academically. 6-7. If a student lives an hour outside of town and have an 8am school bell to meet, then theyre on the bus at 7am. According to new research, the four-day week is a popular way for parents and students to spend quality time together. Shifting to this schedule does have certain disadvantages, especially for working parents. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? 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. Those human beings that seem larger than life and almost achieve Godlike status. Schools are facing many issues today. The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. First and foremost, an extended school day would provide students with extra learning time. Less time in school could allow students the freedom to discover other interests that are fulfilling and stimulating. The Cons. In the United States, $17.5 billion each year is spent on school bus transportation. time attracting qualified applicants. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. . Others believe that lengthening the school day is an expensive endeavor that wont yield substantial results. Shorter, intense courses in which a semesters worth of content is delivered at an expedited rate were deemed to be more successful by students in a recent study by academics at the University of Texas at Austin. Despite the fact that a few studies have recently been published, there is no significant research on the four-day school week. 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. That can make it difficult for some students to pay attention to the information being provided. The program not only saves districts money, but it also allows students to spend more time with their families. These will be some pros of a four day school week. School administration, associates with principal office also went down. Spread the loveThe Talent Search Initiative has as its aim; the identification of high-performing students by organizing specific tests. Many of these districts are small and rural, such as Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. The University of New Mexico Newsroom: Research Study Yields Unexpected Conclusion About Longer School Years. With the 4-day schedule, another 1.5 hours is added to their school day, every day. Since many of the families in these areas run farms, it gives families extra time to get work done during the week. Schools can save up to 20% on some budget-line expenses with a 4-day week. Long summers are known to cause "summer slide," or the decline of academic skills and knowledge over the course of the extended vacation. Colorado, juvenile crime increased by 73% whenever a school changed their The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. 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. A new educational model could be implemented: 9-to-5 schools. That also makes scheduling problematic for many families. School districts save money. Changing the Moniteau County R-1 School districts schedule to a four-day week would be detrimental to students safety and involvement in activities. However, disabled students often face additional challenges in accessing education and achieving academic success. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, rendering the additional class time unproductive. There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. Special correspondent Lisa Stark of Education Week reports on the pros and cons for students, families and schools. If practicums can be included with small group discussions, the retention rate can top 90% for some students. Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. Teachers have more time to prepare lessons and collaborate during the day. Pro: An extended school day provides more time for students to learn and the possibility of providing individualized attention for students in need. When teachers operate under time constraints, in high-pressure situations, then they typically default to a lecture-based teaching style. Students in a 4-day school week are packing 180 days into a condensed 145-day schedule. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. Some school districts have reported saving four-day week across 16 school districts. In some situations, a single teacher may be responsible for over 100 students. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to each. Shorter days can only be seen as a positive thing and would benefit students, teacher, and administrators. Spread the loveApplying for admission to professional and graduate schools is no less competitive than college/undergraduate admissions. The Pros of Longer School Days More Time for Instruction The number one reason for lengthening the school day is to provide teachers with more time for instruction. It requires longer school days. Year-round education (YRE) is being considered or adopted by some districts. One of the primary motivations for adopting the four-day week is financial savings for the school district. It matches the class schedule to a parent's work schedule. "I get really tired throughout the day and I would love shorter school hours." In Lexington, Oregon, Morrow County was able to save about $250,000 their first year, but out of a budget of $14 million. The Why shorter school days are better for teachers? Lets take a look at some proof. In many US school districts, the first class begins 1-2 hours after most parents need to be at work. There can be no one answer to this question because it is a matter of case by case. school schedules from 5 to 4 days. This could be especially true for students who are struggling in a particular subject or for students who have a lot of homework. According to ASCD, many disciplinary issues that students face come from scheduled transitions. But you see with shorter school days youd have more spare time to complete school work. There are several advantages and disadvantages of 4-day school weeks to examine based on the results that districts are reporting from their efforts to implement this schedule. 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. 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. The standard requirement for schools is 180 days or an average range of 990-1080 hours. 4-day school weeks add It may improve overall student attendance. Teachers will have more leisure time to spend with their family as a result of the reduced school days. According to the majority of the researchers, the inconclusive results do not imply that decisions to change schedules should be made based on test scores. The four-day week did not appear to affect. Sometimes even starting school earlier in the . There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district. They were located in 7 western states in the U.S. and all but 13 of them identified themselves as being a rural school district. A local news reporter says thevve also saved substitute teacher costs because teachers don't have to take a day off for appointments (Chiaramonte 2 ). 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. In 2022, companies in the U.K., the U.S., and Canada instituted a four-day workweek pilot program to test the concept. She is the author and co-author of 12 books and serves as a consultant in K-12 and higher education. Granby School District in Colorado shifted to a 4-day schedule for their 1,100 students. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. Other schools are worried about academic performance. Such as emotional and behavioral problems, violence, depression, alcohol use, impaired cognitive function, etc. Also, since special populations fare poorly in this configuration, the costs of Shorter school days that start later in the day could alleviate this problem, promoting healthy habits and the many benefits that go with a solid sleep routine. 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. This occurs because a large number of students are moving around the school campus. Those changes happen because students who are active participants in their learning have more fun in school. Dr. Kelly Meier earned her doctorate from Minnesota State Mankato in Educational Leadership. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. Spread the loveFor the past few decades, our countrys educational system has seen both struggle and tremendous change. The Melstone School District in Montana also shifted to a 4-day school week. The capital, insurance, maintenance, and administrative costs remain relatively constant. In the standard 5-day school week, sports practices occur after school. 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. schedule, the district adds 40 or so minutes to make up for the time lost on A 4-day school week is misleading. That means the students in those districts have better opportunities to learn. Additional learning time as well as improved schedule alignment would make the lives of families noticeably more pleasant. 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. 1. Four day school weeks have been discussed by many schools, and some schools already have them. Arlene Ackerman says she and her students don't have the strength to teach or learn near the end of the school day. Do students learn better in shorter classes? However, these basics vary, depending on a company's policy. When it comes to school, we most likely understand what its like to go to school all year. One of the biggest concerns of a 4-day school week is the length of seat time that younger students must complete. 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. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that attendance improves; parents and teachers can schedule doctor's appointments and other weekday commitments for Fridays rather than during school days. If so, keep reading. 1. If you are arrested for spanking your child, you may face charges of assault, battery, child abuse, or domestic violence. Home Pros and Cons 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week. Read the Full Transcript Judy Woodruff: For many American students and. About 20% of the states school districts incorporate a 4-day schedule of some kind. What we envisage may not be the most straightforward or the most conventional ideas. He goes on to say that in order to realize that level of savings, schools must severely limit transportation for activities or programs not conducted on regular school days. Some students and parents have been advocating for shorter school days, and there is some evidence to suggest that shorter days could be beneficial. Their child is at home while they are at work, which is problematic for parents of younger children. The 180-day calendar is shorter than that of other industrialized countries, and some schools even find ways to shave days even further. Most parents work a 5-day schedule and struggle to adapt to a 4-day school schedule. The school day could be shortened to give children and teenagers more time for movement, brain breaks, and other activities that have been shown to increase learning outcomes. Traditional vs. Those that had implemented the alternative scheduling found that student attendance could rise by more than 20. 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. What are the pros and cons of shorter school week? 4. For the Cove School District in Eastern Oregon, the school day begins at 8am and doesnt end until 4pm. By 2013, a dramatic improvement in scores was credited to the extended learning time. Sacrifices Family Time. Some schools do not allow recess to be used as punishment, while others may do so on a case-by-case basis. The four-day week, according to the research, is far more cost-effective than the traditional five-day week. Year round schools, can actually benefit students in the long run. A switch to a 4-day schedule gives teachers more time to use teaching styles that are more effective. Also, there have been studies that found that special populations do not thrive under this configuration. 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. It also means that certain holiday vacations, such as Thanksgiving, are extended to a full week, and that can be a scheduling concern for many families. Other Debates. 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. Children need the opportunity to rest and re-energize, and theyre often overextended with activities, homework and part-time jobs. the traditional 5th day. It also means that they would have more time to mark the voluminous quantity of homework that they have to complete every night. This is a big con for me, as sacrificing the futures of our most vulnerable students is not worth the trivial benefits of 4-day school weeks. During class time, young kids who are too exhausted to concentrate or perform well may experience tiredness or fall asleep. 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. 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. Spread the loveEducation is a collaborative process, as it takes many stakeholders working in unison to help students succeed academically. Pros. 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. Since an entire day is cut off the week, that extra time needs to be made up during the remaining four days. 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. They dont usually run wild on the last day of school, instead working, making phone calls, or spending time with family. The districts which offer the 4-day work week receive more applications and more qualified applicants than the other school districts. 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. There are many changes with switching the school days. Students feel less pressure because they have more time to study at their own pace at home, especially in the later grades. This can be due to a lack of accessible facilities and resources, or negative attitudes and misconceptions from teachers and classmates. 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. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. That means half of parents will enjoy the alternative school schedule and half will hate it.
