manageable in a myriad of ways. Data is an important variable if youre considering the longer school days pros and cons list. Would a later school schedule be beneficial? 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. However, these basics vary, depending on a company's policy. Teachers are attracted by the prospect of having a shorter work week. 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. School administration, associates with principal office also went down. 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. If young kids are too weary to concentrate or perform well in class, they may experience weariness or fall asleep during class time. Students attending a 4-day school schedule may have requirements for their education that fall outside of the normal work schedule for their parents. Are shorter school days better? - Global Answers There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. 6. According to author accounts, teachers and students suffer as a result of recess being taken away as a punishment for behavior. Recent survey findings show that four-day school weeks have been adopted as a way to alleviate budgetary issues, attract teachers, and reduce student absencesissues that the pandemic . 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. The ability to express oneself via electives can make children happier and more cooperative in the classroom. The Rochester City Council established the Extended Learning Time initiative as part of Rochesters ongoing commitment to education. What are the pros and cons for students, teachers and school boards? In general, ELT has received positive feedback; however, some schools have had more difficult transitions than others. That may mean reducing Spring Break to 2 days instead of having the entire week off. Your email address will not be published. Finalists and Winners of The 2022 Tech Edvocate Awards, Finalists and Winners of The 2021 Tech Edvocate Awards, Finalists and Winners of The 2020 Tech Edvocate Awards, Finalists and Winners of The 2019 Tech Edvocate Awards, Finalists and Winners of The 2018 Tech Edvocate Awards, Finalists and Winners of The 2017 Tech Edvocate Awards, 21 Ways to Teach Students to Use Learning Materials Appropriately, Classical Idealism: Everything You Need to Know, Good Research Topics about Womens Movement, Most Interesting Wine Essay Topics to Write about, Most Interesting Walmart Essay Topics to Write about, Most Interesting W.E.B. The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. 1. Most parents have employment which requires them to be present for 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. By shifting to a 4-day schedule, it becomes easier to transport students to all after-school events and activities because there is an extra day available to plan activities without running into mandatory school times. Bisbee Unified School District (AZ) saved $154,000, Duval County Public School (FL) saved $7 million, and Lake Superior School District (MN) $200,000. Staying at school for the majority of the day isn't allowing me . When teachers are more effective and efficient, student performance follows a similar pattern. The very thought of sending kids to school year-round makes some parents cringe. While some research has shown that increasing the amount of time spent in class can boost student accomplishment, these findings have been influenced by factors such as the classroom atmosphere, the quality of instruction, and students prior knowledge and abilities. Budgetary requirements are an important part of a longer school days pros and cons list. 3. flexibility is why they are such staunch proponents of the 4-day school schedule. . Many break times have been incorporated in the calendar, such as morning recess, afternoon recess, snack time, and so on. Since the approach to curriculum development and pedagogical style varies by state and district, data must be disaggregated to evaluate specific impact. At my school, class went from 8:15 a.m. until 4:15 p.m. about an hour or two longer than a typical five-day-week school's day. A small portion of the districts cash is saved, but not as much as intangibles. Shorter School Days Are the Way - The Oarsman The American Academy of Pediatrics states that children between the ages of 12 and 18 require at least eight hours of sleep per night, and in some cases as much as nine hours. The Pros And Cons Of Shorter School Days - 1283 Words | Bartleby Read the Full Transcript Judy Woodruff: For many American students and. 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. Out of a budget of $5.5 million, they saved $206,000. 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. 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week - BrandonGaille Increases student attendance. Many of these districts are small and rural, such as Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. Advantage: More time for other subjects. In the United States, $17.5 billion each year is spent on school bus transportation. The Pros and Cons of a 4 Day Working Week - Change Recruitment 1. Should school hours be shorter? Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? As a result, learning is less effective due to budget constraints. 4 Day School Week Pros and Cons. 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. By switching to a 4-day school week, the number of transitions can be reduced because more time can be spent on each subject. The school days are spread more evenly over the year, with more frequent short breaks and the absence of a 10-12 week summer break. All of these consequences just because nobody wants to shorten the school day. Companies have been experimenting with shorter work days for at least a decade and, despite announcements that the 40-hour week is dead, there have been mixed results from the experiments. The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. 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 Four-Day School Week - SchoolMoney.org Pro: Education is a priority, and funding should not hold back efforts to provide more effective academic preparation for students. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to each. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. Other schools are worried about academic performance. 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. configuration, but nine districts were actually spending more. recess has numerous benefits, including assisting students in reducing aggression and improving learning. Money is saved on that day because they don't have to run lights, heater or AC. Their child is at home while they are at work, which is problematic for parents of younger children. over 1 million dollars on utilities, busing, and labor costs. 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. 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. Do 4-day school weeks positively affect student outcomes? Sometimes even starting school earlier in the . Longer school days make no sense when there is so much else we could be doing with our time. Staff recruitment is easier with the 4-day school week for school districts. The shorter the school day, the better? time attracting qualified applicants. Spread the loveTeachers need to realize that at home, in their neighborhoods, and in school, many students face difficulties that can interfere with learning. It changes the holiday schedules for the school district. 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. Dr. Meier is is a regular contributor for The Equity Network and has worked in education for more than 30 years. 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. They argue that playing with classmates helps children develop social skills. If so, keep reading. 6 Benefits of Shorter School Days | Should There Be a Change? - ID Tech Some research indicates there may be slight academic benefits to extending the school day. Spread the loveThis term refers to the grouping of students by mental capability, aptitude, or hobbies. Also, there have been studies that found that special populations do not thrive under this configuration. 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%. Spread the loveBuilding a culturally responsive classroom is hard. Administrative staff are required to be on-site, sports These are the key points that must be addressed first. How does it impact your success? That also makes scheduling problematic for many families. Pros & Cons of Lengthening the School Day - Synonym I am glad that you asked. Even the cost savings of a total shift to a 4-day schedule may be minimal. Adds flexibility to teacher's schedules. Why shorter school days are better for teachers? It may eliminate common holidays, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, from the schedule. This would help not only our school but also the parents if they cant afford the gas. For non year-round schools the dropout rate is 5%, which is more than all year-round schools. Pros and cons of school dress code | University News The major pros and cons of a 4-day school week suggest that it can save money for districts, which means taxpayers benefit. School Days Should Be Shorter: Persuasive Essay Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades. Long school days, on the other hand, can present some challenges and, at the very least, unsatisfactory outcomes. In the standard 5-day school week, sports practices occur after school. Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. School days shorter? - The STEAM Press Changing the system could result in many more. (Lewis) In Bonneville, Idaho the school started later in the day which resulted in absences dropping 15%. The 180-day calendar is shorter than that of other industrialized countries, and some schools even find ways to shave days even further. 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. Pros and Cons of a Longer School Day | GoStudent | GoStudent Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. It is important to consider all of the factors before making a decision. Having well-rested and happy employees can increase their overall work engagement and productivity. 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. 1. Savings on school buses and long-term building wear and tear have also been reported. Additional learning time as well as improved schedule alignment would make the lives of families noticeably more pleasant. 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. Adds flexibility to teachers schedules. 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. 4-day school weeks: Educational innovation or detriment? - Brookings Employment opportunities with a 3-day weekend are increasing. That can make it difficult for some students to pay attention to the information being provided. four-day week across 16 school districts. Other popular year-round schedules are the 60-20 and 90-30 calendars, where students are in class for 60 or 90 days with vacations of 20 or 30 days respectively. Teachers report Teachers will have more leisure time to spend with their family as a result of the reduced school days. This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and. In addition, they are given a week off for major holidays and 2 weeks of summer vacation at their parents discretion. Sometimes, schools are forced to travel during the school week to play some games or attend certain events. Thats two hours of lost time for farm chores, homework, or other responsibilities that rural families have more often than urban or suburban families. 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. You wont have to run the electricity or pay for buses. All rights reserved. The requirements for total education time do not change just because a school district goes to a 4-day school week. If so, keep reading. It would also be beneficial to reduce the week in order to promote activity participation. STP every day allows students to do their schoolwork, resulting in reduced overall stress. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. 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 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. Which one is the best? Students that sit in lecture classrooms retain 10% or less of the information that is presented to them. Students will have extra time outside of school to devote to other essential elements of their life as a result of this change. Does this sound exciting and rich with possibilities? Why should school weeks be shorter? teams may need to practice, professional development sessions may convene, etc. You should approach these strategies with your childs teacher instead of punishing him or her. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, students are less active when they are not allowed to recess during the school day due to bad classroom behavior.