Many schools are adding thirty minutes to both the beginning and end of the school day. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. 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. In many US school districts, the first class begins 1-2 hours after most parents need to be at work. According to ASCD, many disciplinary issues that students face come from scheduled transitions. Why did they switch to 4-day school weeks? Oklahoma Department of Education examined the economic effect of going to a The current school schedule is a major downgrade from the 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM distance learning schedule. Administrative staff are required to be on-site, sports flexibility to teachers schedules and as a result, makes their jobs more Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. 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. The basic assumption of a 4 day work week is fulfilling the duties in a shorter amount of time, instead of the usual five-day workweek and receiving the same pay. . Decreased need to re-teach skills after long vacations, allowing teachers to use classroom time more efficiently. Alexander Alvarez, Reporter November 16, 2021. So what are the pros and cons of 4-day school weeks? In return, the number of disciplinary measures can also be reduced. Children have a six-week summer break and ten days of off every 45 days of class. Compacting school into just four days a week leaves more time for kids to spend with family, friends and outside interests. This would help not only our school but also the parents if they cant afford the gas. Our general school hours run from 9 am - 2 pm, with extra . Teachers in Seattle are deciding how to use an additional 20 minutes on top of the usual school day. Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. Your email address will not be published. Since an entire day is cut off the week, that extra time needs to be made up during the remaining four days. The major pros and cons of a 4-day school week suggest that it can save money for districts, which means taxpayers benefit. For the Cove School District in Eastern Oregon, the school day begins at 8am and doesnt end until 4pm. 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. Budgetary requirements are an important part of a longer school days pros and cons list. The idea has been to cut hours while keeping pay the same. 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. The school districts in New Mexico are one of the best examples of this benefit. First, it would give students more time to focus on their homework and studies outside of school. time attracting qualified applicants. It changes the holiday schedules for the school district. Students follow the same type of pattern. 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! Spread the loveWe all have our heroes. Finally, teachers and students would have better relationships as they spend more time together instead of being rushed. Pro: An extended school day provides more time for students to learn and the possibility of providing individualized attention for students in need. If so, keep reading. Opportunity to relax and really immerse yourself in the experience. "I get really tired throughout the day and I would love shorter school hours." Sometimes, schools are forced to travel during the school week to play some games or attend certain events. Advantage: More time for other subjects. Colorado, juvenile crime increased by 73% whenever a school changed their This means students in a district with this alternative schedule get out later for the holidays than students on the traditional Monday-Friday schedule. districts think they will save tons of money by cutting operational costs on Despite these difficulties, many disabled students go on to lead successful and fulfilling lives. Delaying school start times has been shown to have positive outcomes for students and families in overwhelming scientific research. Some schools do not allow recess to be used as punishment, while others may do so on a case-by-case basis. 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. That is because larger districts offer more activities, manage more student events, and operate essentially 7 days per week during the school year anyway. The average national cost that schools need to pay for each students bus transportation is $459. The four-day week did not appear to affect. 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. 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. Theyre from moments we remember having fun, whether that was in the classroom, the playground, or the athletics field. Dr. Kelly Meier earned her doctorate from Minnesota State Mankato in Educational Leadership. 4 Day School Week Pros and Cons. Shorter class durations allow students to enroll in a variety of courses. Changing the system could result in many more. The pros of year-round school Eliminating any sort of long break from school can improve a child's academic achievement. It lists the advantages of the four-day model as: Improved morale and fewer absences: A shorter working week leads to less burnout, making staff happier and more focused in . With the 4-day schedule, another 1.5 hours is added to their school day, every day. By having more instruction in class, students can not only get better test scores, but they can also get better grades. So much so, many new teachers end up leaving the field within their first three years. 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. Imagine a school year that gave the students one week off after every quarter and every Friday off. Others believe that lengthening the school day is an expensive endeavor that wont yield substantial results. Adds flexibility to teacher's schedules. 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. Students feel less pressure because they have more time to study at their own pace at home, especially in the later grades. It involves increasing communication and various forms of interaction between people of different nations, ethnicities and cultures. 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. In Colorado, 31 of the states 176 school districts are currently using a 4-day school week. Spread the loveThis program assesses 15-year-old students schooling in countries that form part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Finally, shorter school days could result in less time for extracurricular activities, which could have a negative impact on student morale. 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. Thats two hours of lost time for farm chores, homework, or other responsibilities that rural families have more often than urban or suburban families. Does time of day affect student learning? Rural areas report that their student attendance has increased since switching to the 4-day school week. 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. Games occur in the evening, often on the weekend. These will be some pros of a four day school week. Required fields are marked *, on Why School Days Should Be Shorter? To avoid this issue, many school districts have considered shifting to a 4-day school week. Easier to recruit employees. This provided the teacher with more freedom with curriculum and time management. It takes about 4-years for schools to get these students back on track academically. From the moment you walk into the second you walk out. 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. The final class ends 1-2 hours before the work day ends for most parents. 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. In addition, they are given a week off for major holidays and 2 weeks of summer vacation at their parents discretion. 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. Some school districts have reported saving One is that students might not have enough time to receive all the instruction they need in a particular subject. Very Costly. Does this sound exciting and rich with possibilities? 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. When it comes to school, we most likely understand what its like to go to school all year. In Peetz Colorado a debate is going on four a four day school week. Does precision really make a program successful? Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. Many recommend that teens get at least eight hours of sleep to feel well rested and . . In 1995, 84 school districts were studied that had already implemented a 4-day school week. When looking at the benefits of a longer school year, the opportunity for expanding subject matter and the individualized needs of students are factors. There are potential reductions in the financial costs of running a school district. 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. When I was a teacher, many moons ago, this was a fringe schooling schedule only practiced by rural school districts. 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. 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. It's almost the end of the first semester, and realizations are starting to set in. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. As a result, kids will be less worried about time management and will be less likely to fall behind on such rewarding activities. Schools would also have to change their bus transportation systems which are designed to run as efficiently and inexpensively as possible. A switch to a 4-day schedule gives teachers more time to use teaching styles that are more effective. Certain activities or games should be prohibited (for an indefinite period of time). Extending the school day is a hot topic for educational policy making bodies. After-school activities begin at that point, which means some students dont make it back home until 8pm that night. Most parents work a 5-day schedule and struggle to adapt to a 4-day school schedule. The Chattooga County School District reported similar results from their trial with this schedule as well. The driving force behind the proposal to lengthen the school day is the assertion that more instructional time would yield greater academic gains. Children would get up early and help with chores, go to school and then help out on the farm until sundown. We must ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn by improving the effectiveness of our schools and ensuring that all children have access to them. For others, perhaps not. 2. 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. The article Should School Stay Earlier? If a student lives an hour outside of town and have an 8am school bell to meet, then theyre on the bus at 7am. That means half of parents will enjoy the alternative school schedule and half will hate it. recess is not only ineffective but also harmful to students who may feel that the punishment is excessive. Most schools, when Year Round Schooling: Should it Be Implemented? Another potential drawback is that shorter school days could lead to more after-school activities, which could be a problem for working parents. Spread the loveFor the past few decades, our countrys educational system has seen both struggle and tremendous change. How do longer school days affect students? There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. Cons: The obvious reason for not shortening school days is the lack of learning time. Bisbee Unified School District (AZ) saved $154,000, Duval County Public School (FL) saved $7 million, and Lake Superior School District (MN) $200,000. It can help teachers and students better manage the process of learning. These 300 would have to find some alternative to school on Fridays if the Moniteau County R-1 School Districts schedule changed from a five day week to a four day week. They saved 1.4%, or $45,000, instead. 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. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. They just dont have time to get everything done. What Are the Pros of a Longer School Day? teams may need to practice, professional development sessions may convene, etc. On top of that, you will likely only be taking 1-2 classes at a time instead of four or more. Traditional vs. Students attending a 4-day school schedule may have requirements for their education that fall outside of the normal work schedule for their parents. Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades. not just on the weekdays when students were out of school. Many say that the four day school week is good for students. 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. Their child is at home while they are at work, which is problematic for parents of younger children. Long school days, on the other hand, can present some challenges and, at the very least, unsatisfactory outcomes. Pros of Year-Round School. Too Early to Tell 4. The standard requirement for schools is 180 days or an average range of 990-1080 hours. Read the Full Transcript Judy Woodruff: For many American students and. According to The Notebook, longer school days add to low energy and exhaustion. The most popular is a 32-hour work week, which means people work 8 hours per day, 4 hours in a week. Fuel, oil, salaries, and supervisory costs can be, A lot of parents are shaking their heads at the consideration of a four-day school week, and a longer school day. There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on student's math and reading scores. This solution has many mixed opinions from parents, teachers and. Students that sit in lecture classrooms retain 10% or less of the information that is presented to them. 1. Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Mass., has risen from a Level 5 to a Level 1 after implementing extended learning time. At the same time, the constant back-and-forth for students limits the amount of fun they can have. In New Mexico, 18 of the states 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. That means one of the biggest expenses for the district is immediately cut by 20%. 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. 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 ). During recess, limit the number of games or activities that students can participate in. It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. Suffolk Public Schools went with a 7:25 am start time for their district and are saving almost $700,000 per year. If she is not receptive to your suggestions, you may want to get a doctors note stating that recess is required. In the United States, about 50% of all companies are either offering or thinking about offering a 4-day workweek for their workers. 1. It also means that they would have more time to mark the voluminous quantity of homework that they have to complete every night. 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. This can be due to a lack of accessible facilities and resources, or negative attitudes and misconceptions from teachers and classmates. The school day is too long. Pros and cons of shorter work weeks. A poll where 2,700 random people were polled about 67% favoured a 4 day school week(university of Scranton). schedule, the district adds 40 or so minutes to make up for the time lost on manageable in a myriad of ways. The schools who did switch the expenses reduced by 20%, transportation would reduce also by 20%, and the average district could have saving of 5.43% total budget. 6 Ways to Implement a Real Multicultural Education in the Classroom, Understanding Letter Recognition and Its Role in Preliteracy, The Advantages and Limitations of Homeschooling, 7 Ways Technology Is Impacting Modern Education, How Dumbed Down Education Is Creating a National Security Crisis, 21 Inspirational Quotes That Nelson Mandela Made About Education, The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 7: How Digital Age Teachers Can Win Over Parents, The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 6: 8 Ways That Digital Age Teachers Avoid Burning Out, The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 5: The Archetype of a Great Teacher, PISA (The Program for International Student Assessment): Everything You Need to Know, How International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs Work, Globalization: Everything You Need to Know, So You Want to Attend Graduate School: The 411 on Grad School Admissions Tests, 20 Ways to Teach Kids to Take Care of Their Personal Property, 13 Ways to Teach Students Appropriate Mealtime Manners, 20 Strategies to Encourage Students to Take Care of their Personal Property, 14 Strategies to Teach Students Appropriate Mealtime Manners, 22 Strategies to Help Students Who Cannot Fasten Their Own Clothes, Homogeneous Grouping: What You Need to Know, Merit Scholarships: Everything Your Need to Know, The Importance of Mentoring Young African-American Males, 7 Ways That Black Students are Discriminated Against in U.S K-12 Schools, The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 4: How to Create a Culturally Responsive Classroom, 6 Steps to Data-Driven Literacy Instruction, Four Keys to a Modern IT Approach in K-12 Schools. Overall, a shorter school schedule resulted in a 7% increase in math scores and a 3% gain in reading. Changing school start times will increase attendance and money brought in. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to encourage students to take care of their personal property? Approximately 1,800 schools in the U.S. have extended learning hours, but there are many pros and cons of extended school days. Data from the National Association of Year-Round Education . 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. You should approach these strategies with your childs teacher instead of punishing him or her. 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). 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. The 4-day schedule eliminates one full driving day for the transportation department. There is the possibility of making up for lost time, especially those who are at a disadvantage due to the digital divide. As with any innovation, shorter workweeks have advantages and disadvantages. Students already feel like their school day is too long. The districts which offer the 4-day work week receive more applications and more qualified applicants than the other school districts. The Agrarian calendar is rooted in the past. 4. Kids already spend a very long time each week in the school and away from their family. According to him, providing education to all would be beneficial to society. The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. But slowly over the nation, schools are switching to a four day school week. That also makes scheduling problematic for many families. They can explore and discover various hobbies and interests, maintain their stress levels and get more sleep. If practicums can be included with small group discussions, the retention rate can top 90% for some students. 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. 5. Since many of the families in these areas run farms, it gives families extra time to get work done during the week. Changing the Moniteau County R-1 School districts schedule to a four-day week would be detrimental to students safety and involvement in activities. 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. Their students were more focused because they were more rested, which equated to fewer classroom disruptions. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less . NOTE : The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Teachers would be required to reimagine their curriculum and would need extra time to develop a curriculum to fit an expanded day. If so, keep reading. Better Employee Engagement A 4 day week can lead to happier and more committed employees. Rural school districts find the greatest benefit in this area. As a result, students dont have to miss school to help out. Dr. Meier is is a regular contributor for The Equity Network and has worked in education for more than 30 years. Arlene Ackerman says she and her students don't have the strength to teach or learn near the end of the school day. If young kids are too weary to concentrate or perform well in class, they may experience weariness or fall asleep during class time. 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. When shifted to a 4-day school week, they reported that they were forced to focus on instruction much more than they had previously. on those days off. How would it sound if school weeks were only four days long and, in doing that, it saved your school money at the same time? There is a variety of emotional and behavioral problems, depression, alcohol use, and impaired cognitive function that can contribute to this.
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pros and cons of shorter school days