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

Small, rural schools facing teacher shortages have led the trend, choosing to take Mondays or Fridays off and giving teachers and students a three-day weekend every week. To make up for the lost day of instruction, school officials tack time onto the remaining four days.

Why have some schools in the United States switched to a four-day school week?

Hundreds of school systems around the country have adopted four-day weeks in recent years, mostly in rural and western parts of the U.S. Districts cite cost savings and advantages for teacher recruitment, although some have questioned the effects on students who already missed out on significant learning during the ...

What is the history of the 4 day school week?

The four-day week began primarily as a means to save money on transportation and operations by closing down the school one day each week. However, some school districts chose to continue to operate during the fifth day with remedial and enrichment programs.

Why the school week should be 4 days?

Pros and Cons of the Four-Day Week

By reducing the number of school days, schools can save money on transportation, food and energy costs. This can be especially important for rural districts where students may need to travel long distances to get to school.

What states are switching to 4 day school weeks?

Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado have had four-day schools for a long time. They are a more recent addition in places like Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri. The states are gatekeepers in a way, mandating a minimum number of instructional days or hours.

What this school district learned from a 4-day week

Why are 5 day school weeks better than 4?

Coming to school five days per week provides the best consistency and routine for children, which we believe is fundamental to strong development at this early, formative age.

Does 4 day school week improve mental health?

While 4-day did make an impact on average years of experience among teachers, it also made a big impact elsewhere. Parents repeatedly emphasize its effect on childrens' mental health and overall well-being. Many Life School students and parents report reduced feelings of stress and burnout.

Is it a bad idea to have a 4 day school week?

The research is mixed on the impact of four-day weeks on student achievement, but most studies find small to medium negative impacts on achievement on average. These negative effects are roughly equivalent to a student being two to seven weeks behind where they would have been if they had stayed on a five-day week.

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.

What are the pros and cons of a four-day school week?

Who started the four-day week?

The concept of a 4 Day working week has a storied history from across the world. As early as 1965, then US-president Richard Nixon called for a four-day working week to improve American families' lives. Since then, the proposal has resurfaced in various guises.

Which country has 4 day school weeks?

As a new school year begins, educators from Poland to Australia to the U.S. are implementing four-day weeks, in a variety of ways.

How many schools have 4 day school weeks in the US?

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 are the negative effects of longer school days?

Limits Time for Other Activities

From sports to music to dance, many children participate in extracurricular activities designed to teach them new skills and enrich their lives. A longer school day could make participating in extracurriculars more difficult. It can also reduce the free time children need.

How does a 4 day school week reduce stress?

Being out of school one extra day per week allows students to relax or to be more productive. The four-day format provides opportunities for an extra work day at an after-school job, engaging in volunteer activities or pursuing additional educational goals.

Why are school days shorter?

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.

Do shorter school days help students?

Shorter school days gives the student more time outside of school to accommodate other aspects of their life. This means a student finally has the time to maintain and work on their mental health. Whether this is in the form of getting restful sleep, decompressing, or pursuing hobbies!

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.

Why school days should not be shorter?

Our children could end up losing large amounts of classroom learning - and then they would need even more private lessons to close the education gap. There is no possible way to reduce the day by even one hour without a negative effect on how much and how well our children learn.

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.

How does a 4 day school week affect parents?

A 4-day school week affects students, teachers, parents, and school districts. A major factor for many parents is childcare on the fifth weekday. Many schools offer free childcare these days. According to Rand.org, most parents (84%) prefer a 4-day school week over the traditional five.

What are the cons of a 5 day school week?

Does California have 4 day school weeks?

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.

How do 4 day school weeks affect students mental health?

A four day school week will help alleviate some of the rising stress levels in our students, while aiming to enhance student, teacher, and parent mental health. It will help provide better opportunities, allow for time to strengthen families, and shift towards student-centered learning.