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. The Agrarian calendar is rooted in the past. The organization 4 Day Week Global sponsored the program. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. It is a program for mostly rural and small school districts. The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. The Rochester City Council established the Extended Learning Time initiative as part of Rochesters ongoing commitment to education. 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. After-school activities begin at that point, which means some students dont make it back home until 8pm that night. 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. Along with giving kids more time to concentrate on critical activities, a shortened school day would also provide pupils with more opportunity to relax. disabled students may also find it difficult to participate in extracurricular activities and socialise with their peers. Easier to recruit employees. Longer school days may have some positive impact on student achievement, but research on their effects is lacking. Shorter School Days Are the Way. The idea has been to cut hours while keeping pay the same. Good for working parents: This would lead to less wraparound care for working . 2. The ability to offer a 3-day weekend, every weekend, is a powerful motivator for school districts that are recruiting for quality employees. That means half of parents will enjoy the alternative school schedule and half will hate it. Teachers will have more leisure time to spend with their family as a result of the reduced school days. Employment opportunities with a 3-day weekend are increasing. 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? Students usually go to school about 6 hours each day in most districts. The Oakridge School District in Oregon reported that their test scores improved when they shifted to this alternative schedule as well. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Extended School Days Advantage: More time to devote to learning. Easier to recruit employees. 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. 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). Pro: Education is a priority, and funding should not hold back efforts to provide more effective academic preparation for students. Cons: The obvious reason for not shortening school days is the lack of learning time. For others, perhaps not. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. Those human beings that seem larger than life and almost achieve Godlike status. In the standard 5-day school week, sports practices occur after school. Why is year round school better? Explained by Sharing Culture Your typical school week: Monday-Friday with the hours sometime between 7 am- 4 pm. According to ASCD, many disciplinary issues that students face come from scheduled transitions. In 1995, 84 school districts were studied that had already implemented a 4-day school week. The average time for school that is scheduled in a 4-day week is either 7:30am-5pm or 8am-5:30pm. Spread the loveThis program assesses 15-year-old students schooling in countries that form part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Mass., has risen from a Level 5 to a Level 1 after implementing extended learning time. According to a Center for American Progress study, traditional school schedules are out of sync with the current economic environment. Decreased need to re-teach skills after long vacations, allowing teachers to use classroom time more efficiently. What Are the Pros of a Longer School Day? Copyright (c) 2023 Matthew Lynch. Pros And Cons Of Five Day School Week 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. Many break times have been incorporated in the calendar, such as morning recess, afternoon recess, snack time, and so on. 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. In many US school districts, the first class begins 1-2 hours after most parents need to be at work. Although families benefit from the 3-day weekend and those scheduling benefits, the non-traditional time off given to students can offset some of that savings. Many of these schools are already operating on an alternative schedule because that is what works best for their community. This occurs because a large number of students are moving around the school campus. This schedule works much better for parents, who often have that working schedule themselves. The benefits of going to a 4-day week for schooling is that it offers teachers and students an additional day for rest every week. I say this because we would have to start. The program not only saves districts money, but it also allows students to spend more time with their families. You have a lifespan that is nine years less than people who graduate: Statistically, you may have a shorter lifespan than people who have gone to school and have been empowered. On the other hand, there have been studies that found no significant difference in overall academic achievement between four-day districts and five-day districts. The driving force behind the proposal to lengthen the school day is the assertion that more instructional time would yield greater academic gains. 6 Benefits of Shorter School Days | Should There Be a Change? - ID Tech A switch to a 4-day schedule gives teachers more time to use teaching styles that are more effective. Four day working week: What are the pros and cons? - World Economic Forum Some students and parents have been advocating for shorter school days, and there is some evidence to suggest that shorter days could be beneficial. The school districts in New Mexico are one of the best examples of this benefit. The disadvantage is that more time does not equate to more learning. Do 4-day school weeks positively affect student outcomes? There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. 10 Main Pros and Cons of 4 Day School Weeks - Green Garage Should the school day start later pros and cons? Some school districts have reported saving Those that had implemented the alternative scheduling found that student attendance could rise by more than 20. It was Mann who founded the first public school in the United States and is widely regarded as the Father of the Public School System. What are some arguments for ending school at 8 hours? We can all agree that school feels like it lasts forever. How Would Later School Start Times Affect Sleep? There are many changes with switching the school days. I believe that if we go to a four day school week that it would help the kids physically, mentally, and financially. For school districts struggling with funding issues, the potential savings here could save the budget. 1. 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. Delaying school start times is associated with a decrease in bedtimes and an increase in sleep for every minute the school day is delayed. It almost forces some families into taking their vacation time from work during these holidays to accommodate the needs of their children. 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. Many school districts keep their administrative staff on school grounds all week long, though some allow half to take a Monday off, while the other half takes Friday off. This could be especially true for students who are struggling in a particular subject or for students who have a lot of homework. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days - Walden University 2. Long school days can cause eating problems for students who don't eat at school, or who use up all their energy while learning. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach. But slowly over the nation, schools are switching to a four day school week. Schools may even have to purchase lights for after school activities. 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. Many schools are adding thirty minutes to both the beginning and end of the school day. When the new school day was implemented, the system was relieved of the need to cram math, reading, and science into a short period of time, allowing for more time to be spent on subjects that students enjoy and teachers enjoy. These are more reasons CHS should move to a four day school week. Also, there have been studies that found that special populations do not thrive under this configuration. Longer school days may lead to attention deficit and fatigue, making the extra class time ineffective. Changing school start times will increase attendance and money brought in. 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. Over the next three years, the school district was able to save 2% on their overall costs each year, for a total of $200,000. 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. In return, the number of disciplinary measures can also be reduced. Programs like student tutoring or sports, teacher/parent meetings, staff development, and building maintenance still happen on the fifth day, which negates many of the cost-savings opportunities that the 4-day schedule appears to offer. 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. Students are engaged more fully when their school schedule is expanded, and they learn more efficiently when they are exposed to a more stimulating environment. Weekend sporting events make it easier to get students to them, especially when they are an away event, because the school day doesnt interfere on a Friday. Schools can save up to 20% on some budget-line expenses with a 4-day week. Lets take a look at some proof. In the United States, only five states require recess in elementary schools, with Texas not one of them. The pros and cons of year-round school - Care.com Resources Four Day School Week: The Pros And Cons - HonorsGradU It changes the holiday schedules for the school district. Cutting that by 20% means a savings of $4 billion, if implemented nationwide. 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 . Their child is at home while they are at work, which is problematic for parents of younger children. 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. One of the biggest concerns of a 4-day school week is the length of seat time that younger students must complete. Childrens schooldays should be around 8 hours long, and they should be school-aged all year. What are the pros and cons of shorter school week? Should schools go to a 4 day school week instead of 5 days? This can be due to a lack of accessible facilities and resources, or negative attitudes and misconceptions from teachers and classmates. The University of New Mexico Newsroom: Research Study Yields Unexpected Conclusion About Longer School Years. It is also possible for schools to extend the school day in more districts across the country. Working a couple of hours after school gains experience and disposable income. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to encourage students to take care of their personal property? School districts save money. Administrative staff are required to be on-site, sports The school day is too long. In 2022, companies in the U.K., the U.S., and Canada instituted a four-day workweek pilot program to test the concept. It is critical to avoid producing a longer school day and instead produce a healthier, more balanced, and more engaging one. Theyre from moments we remember having fun, whether that was in the classroom, the playground, or the athletics field. The average length of the K-12 school day is 8:30 to 3:00, engaging U.S. students in school for 6.64 hours a day over the span of 180 school days. Public school everything for schoolchildren and students. It might help school districts save money. It may reduce the number of discipline referrals for students. Extending the school day is a hot topic for educational policy making bodies. If you are arrested for spanking your child, you may face charges of assault, battery, child abuse, or domestic violence. 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of 4 Day School Weeks manageable in a myriad of ways. We call for a relatively radical and certainly quite comprehensive reorganization of Americas P-20 system. teams may need to practice, professional development sessions may convene, etc. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. Dr. Kelly S. Meier - Updated May 03, 2019, Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education, Explore state by state cost analysis of US colleges in an interactive article, NavajoCode: Unbiased Longer School Days Pros and Cons. 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. Shorter school days should be used in the United States education system since they have several advantages. How does it impact your success? This schedule cycles consistently throughout the year while making minor adjustments for major holidays and teacher workdays. 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. After-school jobs are a common way for teens to make money. The school also doesn't have to pay anyone that is on an hourly schedule. School Days Should Be Shorter: Persuasive Essay Pros & Cons of Lengthening the School Day - Synonym four-day week across 16 school districts. Additional learning time as well as improved schedule alignment would make the lives of families noticeably more pleasant. 3. 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. One issue that schools face today is what kind of school schedule there should be throughout the year. It is also good for teachers and the whole school. The school day was originally created to meet the needs of farmers. 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. Finally, some parents worry that shorter days could mean that their children would have less time to participate in extracurricular activities. Time of day effects may be induced by variations in the quality of instructors instruction, changes in the learning abilities of students, or differences in student attendance patterns. But recently, there has been a move towards shorter weeks across the United States. The Pros and Cons of a 4 Day Work Week - TimeCamp If a longer lunch allows high school students to leave campus, they might opt for unhealthy fast-food options; on the other hand, this extended time might allow them to seek out healthier dishes than those available in the cafeteria. Pros and cons of a four day working week. Spread the loveAre you looking for strategies to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? Getting to school on-time or making it out for the bus is a constant battle. Pros and Cons of a Longer School Day | GoStudent | GoStudent 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. A 4-day school week is misleading. Four day school weeks may not be a realistic situation for all schools throughout the nation, but for those that it is possible, the four day school week saves money, improves test scores, and further improves the school as a whole. There tends to be less student exhaustion, which allows them to focus more on the learning process. 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. Underperforming schools and the lagging performance of U.S. students in comparison to other countries is a concern. Pros and cons of school dress code | University News Sacrifices Family Time. This would help not only our school but also the parents if they cant afford the gas. With the 4-day schedule, another 1.5 hours is added to their school day, every day. 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. 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. Games occur in the evening, often on the weekend. Very Costly. Teachers have more time to prepare lessons and collaborate during the day. flexibility to teachers schedules and as a result, makes their jobs more The Melstone School District in Montana also shifted to a 4-day school week. Shorter school days should be utilized in the U.S. education system as it comes with many benefits. Compacting school into just four days a week leaves more time for kids to spend with family, friends and outside interests. Changing the times could increase attendance by 1%, which could bring in $40 million more. 1. From the moment you walk into the second you walk out. It also means that they would have more time to mark the voluminous quantity of homework that they have to complete every night. Pros and Cons of a Shorter Workweek. Spread the loveOne of the questions that I am frequently asked is, what does a good teacher look like? 12 Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week - Vittana.org 1. 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. This means students in a district with this alternative schedule get out later for the holidays than students on the traditional Monday-Friday schedule. Changing the Moniteau County R-1 School districts schedule to a four-day week would be detrimental to students safety and involvement in activities. That is because larger districts offer more activities, manage more student events, and operate essentially 7 days per week during the school year anyway. Finally, shorter school days could result in less time for extracurricular activities, which could have a negative impact on student morale. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days It was suggested that a combination of four-week summer holidays and a school day finishing at 4:30pm would lead to improvements in pupil attainment. school schedules from 5 to 4 days. It may eliminate common holidays, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, from the schedule. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. One is that it would likely mean that teachers would have to teach more classes, which could lead to burnout. The four-day week, according to the research, is far more cost-effective than the traditional five-day week. Accidents, absences, and absences all fall on the decline, and students academic performance rises. 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. 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. The evaluated skills include science, math, and reading. Are shorter school days better? - Global Answers 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. The benefits are many. Most schools, when Year Round Schooling: Should it Be Implemented? Long school days, on the other hand, can present some challenges and, at the very least, unsatisfactory outcomes. In the United States, the average school day is around six and a half hours long. The major pros and cons of a 4-day school week suggest that it can save money for districts, which means taxpayers benefit. 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. Sports schedules are easier to manage. 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. Students attending a 4-day school schedule may have requirements for their education that fall outside of the normal work schedule for their parents. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. They dont usually run wild on the last day of school, instead working, making phone calls, or spending time with family. 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. You wont have to run the electricity or pay for buses. This is one of the strongest arguments in favour of a longer school day. Oklahoma Department of Education examined the economic effect of going to a recess is not only ineffective but also harmful to students who may feel that the punishment is excessive. Well, at least initially. The move toward a shorter workweek is gaining momentum. These will be some pros of a four day school week. Saving on utilities school buses, and long term building wear and tear. Over the course of a 2-year period on this alternative schedule, they reported up to a 20% increase in student attendance. This may not seem like a lot, but when you factor in homework and after-school activities, it can be a lot for a student to handle. Increases student attendance. There is no one answer to this question as it can depend on individual circumstances. Find out about families that swap a shorter summer break for learning time that's more continuous. The Pros and Cons of the Four-Day School Week - LINQ If young kids are too weary to concentrate or perform well in class, they may experience weariness or fall asleep during class time. Spread the loveFor the past few decades, our countrys educational system has seen both struggle and tremendous change. 2. They can explore and discover various hobbies and interests, maintain their stress levels and get more sleep. Increasing the length of school days may result in attention deficit and exhaustion, rendering the additional class time unproductive. How do longer school days affect students? Having students to fit 5 days' worth of classroom time into 4 days would make for a tiring schedule, where many of the younger school children would find it very difficult to focus on their study for such long periods. Pros And Cons Of A Four-Day School Week - The Odyssey Online 10 Noteworthy Benefits of a Shorter School Day - Tenney School Pros and Cons of Longer School Days | GCU Blog Their students were more focused because they were more rested, which equated to fewer classroom disruptions. This added Does precision really make a program successful? 3. This leads to added costs that some families, living paycheck to paycheck, may not be able to afford. The article Should School Stay Earlier? Four day school weeks have been discussed by many schools, and some schools already have them. Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. However, these basics vary, depending on a company's policy. Spread the loveAre you looking for ways to teach students appropriate mealtime manners? Sara Blackwell teaches Employment Law at University of South Florida in Tampa and she is a published author. 12 Pros and Cons of a 4 Day School Week (2023) 15 Major Pros and Cons of Early School Start Times 4-day school weeks add 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. Most students, especially younger ones, find that the traditional school schedule is already too long. 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. 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. Changing the system could result in many more. Here are some additional key points to think about when looking at the pros and cons of a 4-day school week. Spread the loveThe International Baccalaureate Program is a very intensive pre-college program in which when students get involved, they get college credit. Going to the 4-day schedule can create scheduling conflicts with other districts, particularly with sporting events, performances, and groups like 4-H. 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. NOTE : The information on this website is for general information purposes only. But just because the final bell rang doesnt mean that youre done. List of Cons of Implementing 4-Day School Weeks 1. Students who attend year-round school have the same number of school days as their counterparts following a traditional schedule.