teams may need to practice, professional development sessions may convene, etc. In general, ELT has received positive feedback; however, some schools have had more difficult transitions than others. Year-round education (YRE) is being considered or adopted by some districts. In the United States, about 50% of all companies are either offering or thinking about offering a 4-day workweek for their workers. Over the course of a 2-year period on this alternative schedule, they reported up to a 20% increase in student attendance. According to him, providing education to all would be beneficial to society. Small group learning with discussion, for example, increases the information retention rate for students up to 80%. 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. Students spend less time on the bus. Many say that the four day school week is good for students. Should the school week be shortened to 4 days? - Wise-Answer STP every day allows students to do their schoolwork, resulting in reduced overall stress. They saved 1.4%, or $45,000, instead. Then ask the superintendent of the school district to consider year round school with only four days per week.First, students would not forget what they learned over the long summer. Four day school weeks are becoming a necessity for some rural school districts that lack funding. that the flexibility of the 4-day work week helps them get more done. 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 . 1. In return, the number of disciplinary measures can also be reduced. This means students in a district with this alternative schedule get out later for the holidays than students on the traditional Monday-Friday schedule. Why School Days Should Be Shorter? (Solution) - Public school Many school districts still operate Monday-Friday, even on a 4-day week. List of the Major Cons of a 4-Day School Week 1. The Pros and Cons of Longer vs. Shorter Trips. Pro: In 2004, the school day was lengthened for a Massachusetts school to address the issue of underperforming students. If the schools made 40 minute periods, the students could learn just as much as they would in a 50 minute period.One of the biggest benefits of this system is the financial savings. Florida's inflation-adjusted education spending per student has roughly doubled in the last 30 years -- to $7,473 in 2000-01. Cons: The obvious reason for not shortening school days is the lack of learning time. Their students were more focused because they were more rested, which equated to fewer classroom disruptions. Special correspondent Lisa Stark of Education Week reports on the pros and cons for students, families and schools. The Trump Administrations Vindictive Attack On Federal Workers: The Shutdown Of The Office Of Special Counsel, Michigan State University College Of Law: A Top Law School, Why Union Safe Company Is The Best Choice For Protecting Your Home Or Business, The Life Of John Laurens: A Patriot Lawyer And Army Officer. 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. Shorter school days should be utilized in the U.S. education system as it comes with many benefits. The decision to implement such a schedule must therefore be handled at the local level. Going to the 4-day schedule can create scheduling conflicts with other districts, particularly with sporting events, performances, and groups like 4-H. In the standard 5-day school week, sports practices occur after school. Pros Vs. Cons of Extended School Days - The Classroom A longer school day would involve substantial funding for teacher salaries and facility maintenance. 4 day school week would be better for schools without a doubt because you save money and kids will be more refreshed and not burned out also their behavior is showed to become better. These schools save all this money from just switching to a shorter week. Potential for juvenile crime to increase. 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. The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. Many companies have found that when workers are able to work a schedule which suits their needs, letting them work how they like, then their workers are more productive. 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. 1. We were able to build a strong community and school consensus as a result of our programs success. When implemented, however, 1st graders do just as well as teens with the expanded schedule and 3-day weekend. The Pros and Cons of a Four-Day School Week - ThoughtCo In the United States, the average school day is around six and a half hours long. What are the pros and cons of shorter school week? Some of the pros of year-round schooling include: 1 . One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. Spread the loveAfrican Africans have a long history of being mistreated in the United States, starting with slavery. They argue that playing with classmates helps children develop social skills. Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. The trade-off for a shorter week is a longer school day. Many schools are, in fact, offering year-round services now to accommodate the changing needs of their communities. It may improve overall student attendance. 2. 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? 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 kids groan, complain about getting out of bed, and struggle to get through the morning routine. It is encouraged for students to try new things in order to benefit from them. There are positive outcomes that may occur, but there are negative outcomes that must also be managed. That is a lot of time taken away, but if the school days were shortened, you would have a lot more time to do your activities. Most students in the four-day districts80 percent of high school students and 90 percent of elementary studentsspent their "off day" at home. 3. Increases student attendance. SHORTER SCHOOL DAYS Science Leadership Academy @ Center City You wont have to run the electricity or pay for buses. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, rendering the additional class time unproductive. It can also be difficult to monitor, as students may be able to find ways to sneak in a recess break even when they are supposed to be punished. Oklahoma Department of Education examined the economic effect of going to a They also said students can gain more time for fun and still receive an excellent education. I say this because we would have to start. Should the school day start later pros and cons? 3. These school districts are typically in isolated regions, are rural, and have a student body that is fewer than 500 students. 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. Extending the school year may help make teaching a full-time, more lucrative profession for educators if year-round schools can cut costs through . Because school buses are only running 4 days per week instead of 5 days, there is the potential of reducing transportation costs by up to 20% by shifting the schedule. Schools are facing many issues today. School districts save money. At the same time, the constant back-and-forth for students limits the amount of fun they can have. 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. According to a Center for American Progress study, traditional school schedules are out of sync with the current economic environment. In Alabama, the school year lasts 180 days and the school day lasts 7.03 hours. The pros and cons of a 4-day school week offer many challenges. 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 . 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 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. In some situations, a single teacher may be responsible for over 100 students. If the school days are shortened, then students will not be able to learn enough because of the short school day. Pros & Cons of Lengthening the School Day - Synonym When shifted to a 4-day school week, they reported that they were forced to focus on instruction much more than they had previously. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. This could be especially true for students who are struggling in a particular subject or for students who have a lot of homework. For others, perhaps not. 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. All rights reserved. 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. Custer School District, in rural South Dakota, believed they could save $70,000 with a 4-day school week. Practices for sports are still held on the fifth day, as are teacher conferences, staff development opportunities, and required janitorial work. Approximately 1,800 schools in the U.S. have extended learning hours, but there are many pros and cons of extended school days. A potential decline in academic performance for vulnerable groups. Because the four-day school week has only been around for a decade or so, we simply dont have enough time, data, or research to make a definitive declaration. The ability to express oneself via electives can make children happier and more cooperative in the classroom. The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. They do have a full day free for a job in some instances, but trying to find work on the weekends only, especially in a rural community, is never a guarantee unless you dont mind working on a farm, that is. 12 Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week - Vittana.org There are many financial benefits from a 4 day school week.With only 4 days in a week, that is one less day theschool has to pay for lunches . Home Pros and Cons 20 Major Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week. Does this sound exciting and rich with possibilities? Students have more time outside of school to focus on other important aspects of their lives. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. Pros and Cons of a Shorter Workweek. If practicums can be included with small group discussions, the retention rate can top 90% for some students. Teachers will have more leisure time to spend with their family as a result of the reduced school days. Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades. The organization 4 Day Week Global sponsored the program. Staff recruitment is easier with the 4-day school week for school districts. That also makes scheduling problematic for many families. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. Students who attend year-round school have the same number of school days as their counterparts following a traditional schedule. The four-day week, according to the research, is far more cost-effective than the traditional five-day week. The Pros And Cons Of Shorter School Days - 1283 Words | Bartleby The schedule change also shifted how teachers assigned homework, making it more efficient and focused. After analyzing Colorado schools operating on four-day school weeks, (Dam) reports that transportation costs can be reduced by 20%. Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. Why should school weeks be shorter? There is a variety of emotional and behavioral problems, depression, alcohol use, and impaired cognitive function that can contribute to this. 10 Reasons Why School Days Should Not Be Shorter? (TOP 5 Tips) 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. If something goes wrong . Those that had implemented the alternative scheduling found that student attendance could rise by more than 20. Traditional vs. Changing the Moniteau County R-1 School districts schedule to a four-day week would be detrimental to students safety and involvement in activities. The driving force behind the proposal to lengthen the school day is the assertion that more instructional time would yield greater academic gains. The very thought of sending kids to school year-round makes some parents cringe. After-school activities begin at that point, which means some students dont make it back home until 8pm that night. Additional learning time as well as improved schedule alignment would make the lives of families noticeably more pleasant. Four day working week: What are the pros and cons? - World Economic Forum Teachers report Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. 4 Day School Week Pros and Cons. Because of this, school districts dont have a hard I am glad that you asked. Year-Round Schedules Many people think of the school year as starting in August or at the beginning of September and continuing for 10 months. Finally, shorter school days could result in less time for extracurricular activities, which could have a negative impact on student morale. Shorter school days should be used in the United States education system since they have several advantages. Why Should School Days Be Longer? (Best solution) Anticipated savings are in transportation, food and food service workers, hourly workers and utilities. The school day was originally created to meet the needs of farmers. In New Mexico, 18 of the states 89 school districts are currently using this alternative schedule. Cons of the 4-Day School Week. 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. Older students can spend time engaging in resum-building public service or paid work. This is one of the strongest arguments in favour of a longer school day. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days. For the parents of younger students, an additional full day of daycare may need to be scheduled every week instead of a partial day. With the 4-day schedule, another 1.5 hours is added to their school day, every day. This issue occurs at all grade levels. Instead, an investment should be made in improving teaching strategies and new technology that could transform the learning process. Theyre from moments we remember having fun, whether that was in the classroom, the playground, or the athletics field. It starts too early, ends too late, and occurs far too often. Data from the National Association of Year-Round Education . 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. Shorter School Day Hurts Teachers, Students - Manhattan Institute What Are the Pros of a Longer School Day? 1. Spread the loveThis term refers to the grouping of students by mental capability, aptitude, or hobbies. Another is that shorter days could lead to shorter attention spans in classrooms. Teachers can use more time in the day to go on field trips or expand content areas. 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. Schools across the country offer extended learning hours. They can supervise their children at the bus stop in rural districts as well. Rural school districts and small school districts benefit the most from a 4-day schedule because of their natural isolation. Changing the system could result in many more. The Chattooga County School District in Georgia shifted to a 4-day school week. Here are a few: 1. The idea has been to cut hours while keeping pay the same. Less time in school could allow students the freedom to discover other interests that are fulfilling and stimulating. Keeping schools open five days a week is not financially feasible. Our general school hours run from 9 am - 2 pm, with extra . Your email address will not be published. So much so, many new teachers end up leaving the field within their first three years. Copyright (c) 2023 Matthew Lynch. Shortening the school day can give kids and teens more time for movement, brain breaks, and other activities that have been shown to improve learning outcomes, among other benefits.. With more room to move and less worry about following the rules in class, kids can be better equipped to focus when needed. 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. If so, keep reading. . Spread the loveGlobalization is the growing interconnectedness of countries around the world. Why weekends should be longer for students? It matches the class schedule to a parent's work schedule. 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Some students and parents have been advocating for shorter school days, and there is some evidence to suggest that shorter days could be beneficial. Arlene Ackerman says she and her students don't have the strength to teach or learn near the end of the school day. Although sleep is a huge and major part, it is not the only part. Such as emotional and behavioral problems, violence, depression, alcohol use, impaired cognitive function, etc. We call for a relatively radical and certainly quite comprehensive reorganization of Americas P-20 system. However, disabled students often face additional challenges in accessing education and achieving academic success. 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 over 1 million dollars on utilities, busing, and labor costs. Delaying school start times has been shown to have positive outcomes for students and families in overwhelming scientific research. In comparison to 2007, the number of public schools that offer year-round programs has increased by 26%. The pros and cons of longer days and shorter breaks - SecEd One internet search reveals a wealth of opinions on both sides of the issue, and each argument sheds light on the topic. four-day week across 16 school districts. Four-Day School Week Overview - National Conference of State Legislatures First and foremost, an extended school day would provide students with extra learning time. What are the pros and cons of longer school days? 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%. 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). When it comes to school, we most likely understand what its like to go to school all year. It's almost the end of the first semester, and realizations are starting to set in. Colorado, juvenile crime increased by 73% whenever a school changed their Extending the school days even longer would further cut into valuable time to bond with family. Extended School Year Pros & Cons | GEDDES - raymondgeddes.com The challenges of implementing such a schedule for parents, administrators, and even some teachers have caused some Colorado school districts to return to the traditional schedule instead of the alternative 4-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. This occurs because a large number of students are moving around the school campus. Better Employee Engagement A 4 day week can lead to happier and more committed employees. Schools would also have to change their bus transportation systems which are designed to run as efficiently and inexpensively as possible. According to ASCD, many disciplinary issues that students face come from scheduled transitions. 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 ). 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. Shorter school weeks or longer school days are reasonable solutions when there is a shortage of funding, or possible budget cuts coming to the school district. The Cons of Longer School Days. One is that students might not have enough time to receive all the instruction they need in a particular subject.