How long have 4-day school weeks been around?

Although the four-day school week originated in 1936, it was not widely implemented until 1973 when there was a need to conserve energy and reduce operating costs.

What is the history of the 4-day school week?

School districts began to move to four-day schedules in the early 2000s as a way to save money during the Great Recession, Thompson said. Before the Covid pandemic, most districts on a four-day week were rural districts that had trouble recruiting teachers.

How many schools in the US have a 4-day school week?

This time around, schools are making the switch more often with a goal of boosting teacher recruitment and retention. Four-day weeks have been adopted in almost 900 school districts nationwide, the Associated Press reported in September 2023 .

What states are switching to 4-day weeks?

How long has the 5 day school week been around?

For over a century, most PK-12 schools across the United States have been using the same format of five days of school a week for approximately 9 months a year. The discussion of a four-day school week is being considered as many school districts try to balance their budgets each school year.

More schools switching to 4-day week

Who started the four-day school week?

Stemmock (1975) claimed that the first four-day schedule to receive national recognition was Unity Elementary school in the Maine Administrative District # 3 in the early 1970's. It was reported that Unity saved $13,000 in operating costs in the first five months of implementation.

Why is a 4 day school week better than 5?

Proponents of a four-day school week argue that it offers several benefits, including cost savings, improved student attendance and increased teacher morale. By reducing the number of school days, schools can save money on transportation, food and energy costs.

What are the cons of a four day school week?

One study found that the four-day week may hurt reading scores more than math scores. A large study released last year found that the shorter schedule held back student achievement in small-town and suburban districts but had little or no effect in rural districts.

Why school should not be 4 days a week?

The potential long-term learning deficit in student achievement from the four-day school week is, our findings suggest, not trivial. There is increasing evidence that, by and large, a four-day school week causes student achievement to suffer.

Is us shifting to a 4 day school week?

To retain teachers Many school districts around the U.S. are moving to a four-day school week to retain teachers. Districts that don't want to raise taxes to pay teachers more are using the long weekend as an incentive.

Does 4 day school weeks improve mental health?

A shorter school week means fewer days of intense academics, allowing everyone to recharge over the long weekend. “It helps keep my stress level down because school and classes are very stressful and can take a negative toll on mental health,” one student shared.

What are the pros and cons of having a 4 day school week?

Do shorter school days help students?

Lower Stress Levels: Lengthy school days often contribute to stress and burnout among students due to the continuous pressure of studies. Reducing school hours can help alleviate this stress, leading to a healthier and more balanced lifestyle for students.

Why did schools in the US first bring in a 4 day school week?

Fewer but longer days: How four-day school weeks work

Lathrop was motivated by budget pressures when it decided to introduce a four-day school week 13 years ago. Scrapping Mondays from the schedule allowed the district to save money in areas like support-staff wages and transportation costs.

How long did school days used to be?

The school day usually started at 9 a.m. and ended around 2 p.m. Remember there had to be time for the children to walk to and from school. Some schools had a big chalkboard at the front and if you were lucky, you had a school desk that had an inkwell for you to use ink to write on paper when it was available.

Why do some states have 4 day school weeks?

Districts that switch to four-day school weeks generally do so to cut costs on transportation, operations and support staff. In the last few years, improving teacher recruitment and retention has become another commonly cited reason.

How does a 4 day school week affect grades?

They found no significant differences in academic achievement between districts that used five-day schedules and those that used four-day schedules, as long as the districts with shorter weeks maintained a high or medium amount of instructional time for students.

What are the cons of a 5 day school week?

Should school days be shorter pros?

Shorter school weeks may improve teacher and student morale, reduce burnout, and provide more flexibility for extracurricular activities. Longer days, on the other hand, could allow for more in-depth instruction, additional enrichment activities, and better utilization of resources.

Is Florida getting 4 day school week?

The extended weekends -- Oct. 12-15, 2024, Feb. 14-17, 2025, and April 18-21, 2005 -- will be added to the school calendar in addition to the weeklong Thanksgiving holiday, the two week Christmas break in December and a one-week pause in March for spring break.

Is Arizona switching to a 4 day school week?

More Arizona school districts are experimenting with new break schedules, four-day weeks. Schools in Arizona are now in full swing. However, some have been in session for longer than others, and some will be going on break at different times than others and for a different number of days or weeks.

Does California have 4 day school week?

There is only one other school district in California the state has allowed to have a four-day school schedule. That's Leggett Valley Unified oi the Eel River in Mendocino County. Compared to Big Sur Unified, it's a big district with four schools and 75 students.

Should we abolish homework?

Some educational experts suggest that there should be hours of homework in high school, some homework in middle school, and none in elementary school. Some call for the 10-minute rule. Others say that homework doesn't work at all. It's still fairly unstudied how achievement is impacted as a result of homework.

Why are school years getting longer?

Over the last century, humans have acquired a staggering amount of knowledge and understanding. It makes sense that we now need to spend more time educating children, especially in the STEM fields, where knowledge is advancing rapidly and where job opportunities remain plentiful.