Unexpected Benefits of the Four-Day School Week
1In some rural school districts in South Dakota, many students ride a bus an hour or more to get to school. School district leaders were looking for a way to cut costs on fuel and school bus maintenance. They decided to try a four-day school week. With one less day of driving, they could be able to save up to 20% on bus expenses. Plus, students spend less time riding a bus each week. While it turned out that the four-day week didn't save as much money as the districts hoped, there were many other unexpected benefits.
2For one, students had better attendance. In many of these towns, the closest dentist is three hours away. There is no chance of a student making it to a dentist appointment and back to school in the same day. Even if an appointment is scheduled for after school, the family still must spend three hours traveling to get there. This goes for doctor visits or other specialist appointments as well. Students really have no other option besides missing an entire day of school, even if it is just for a quick check-up. The four-day school week alleviates this problem. Parents can schedule appointments on the day when there is no school.
3Districts also found that the four-day week led to higher teacher retention. Teacher retention is the number of teachers who continue to work in a school district. In any given school year, there are teachers who retire, move, or quit the profession. Some of the more rural districts had over 20% teacher turnover each year. That means one in five teachers left. When they switched to the four-day week, the turnover rate dropped to only 13%. Keeping the same faces year to year helps build the school community. Many teachers seem to be big fans of the four-day week and therefore choose to stay in the district.
4Another benefit is that the four-day school week opens up time for teacher trainings. Schools can take advantage of this extra day for teacher professional development. This is how teachers stay up-to-date with current practices. Also, if they can schedule workshops on the Friday, then teachers do not have to miss days with their students in order to continue their education. This also means the district does not have to pay for substitute teachers to cover classes while teachers are away.
5Additionally, the extra day allows for programs to benefit students. Students who are struggling or need extra help can come to school on the extra day for tutoring. They can receive the additional instruction and practice they need to catch up. Many schools qualify for grants that provide extracurricular clubs and enrichment activities to students on the extra day. This could include art and music programs or even robotics.
6While the four-day schedule didn't save districts as much money on busing as they hoped, it turned out to have many other benefits.
Four-Day School Week is Great for Some, Not All
7Teachers like the four-day week because they get a longer weekend to recharge. Many teachers spend hours of their weekend grading papers or planning for the next week. They can do this and still have a regular weekend to spend with their families.
8Kids like the four-day week because, well, there is less time at school. They have an extra day for video games, riding bikes, and going to the playground. Not only do they have more time to play, but they also have more time to complete projects and reading assignments. Additionally, they get extra free time at home with their families. They can devote additional time to their hobbies and other extracurricular interests. Older students have opportunities to complete volunteer work or earn money from part-time jobs.
9School administrators support the four-day week because they have time to schedule cleaning and maintenance at the school when students are not present. It's hard to wax the floors when students are on campus! They can also schedule professional development opportunities for teachers and enrichment activities for students. Moreover, principals found when it came time to hire new teachers, they were getting higher qualified candidates. More teachers had master's degrees and specialized certificates.
10Many parents are in favor of the four-day school week. One parent, Heidi Stroud from South Dakota, explained that having a three-day weekend has allowed her family to spend time together and bond in new ways. Breanna Schaefer, mother of three, mentions the effects of the long weekend she has noticed on her children. “They seem to be a little more re-charged when Monday rolls around.”
11With so many people in support of the four-day school week, it almost seems like more districts should make the switch. However, not everyone is in favor of the shortened school week. For some parents, it creates a childcare dilemma. A majority of people work Monday thru Friday. In a school district with the typical Monday through Friday schedule, kids are at school for most of the workday. Essentially, school is childcare.
12With the extra day off of school, parents can't just leave their young children home alone while they go to work. They must find quality childcare, and it is an added expense. Many parents simply cannot afford to pay a babysitter for a full day every single week. Daycares are expensive, as well. These parents rely on school to care for their children during the workday. The four-day school week is problematic for five-day employees.
Four-Day School Week? Experts Say “No!”
13While the four-day school week is popular among students and teachers, educational experts are hesitant to support the shortened school schedule. In many districts that have adopted the four-day school week, kids go to school Monday through Thursday. Kids get a three-day weekend, and the school districts increase the length of the four remaining school days. This means tacking on an average of 45–60 extra minutes to an already-long school day.
14It is the length of the remaining days that has some experts worried. Some believe that “lengthening classes and compressing them into four days can overwhelm young learners.” They feel it may not be developmentally appropriate for the youngest students. Simply stated, the school day is just too long.
15Kids have limited attention spans. On a typical school day, most kids are exhausted by the time the final bell rings. They may have a hard time focusing for an extra hour each day. Additionally, some students may have trouble remembering the information they learned at school when they go home for a three-day weekend.
16Others are concerned that teachers may have to rush to cover all of the material required each school year. Cramming is not an effective teaching strategy. How can teachers possibly teach all of the curriculum with one less day? Experts also believe that with only four days in each school week, there is not enough time to meet with and interact with all students on the level they need.
17Since the four-day week is a newer trend, there is not a lot of data and research on the practice. However, the research that does exist is contradictory. One study from Colorado in 2015 showed that fourth and fifth graders improved their academic scores on the four-day week. Yet, another study from Oregon in 2017 indicated a decrease in test scores from third through eighth graders.
18One alarming study in Colorado indicated that juvenile crime increased 20% in districts that followed the four-day school schedule. With more free time on their hands, some older students do not use their time wisely.
19Ultimately, school district leaders have to choose the schedule that best meets the needs of their students and teachers. Until further research is completed, experts recommend that you stick to the traditional five-day school schedule.