When properly implemented, extended learning time programs have the potential to increase students academic progress as well as their social and emotional development. Spread the loveTeachers need to realize that at home, in their neighborhoods, and in school, many students face difficulties that can interfere with learning. Why should school weeks be shorter? What are the Pros and Cons of 4-Day School Weeks? 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. One school said that they have saved a teacher in diesel fuel costs (chiaramonte 2 ). Shortening the School Day | Education - Seattle PI The Pros and Cons of the Four-Day School Week - LINQ One issue that schools face today is what kind of school schedule there should be throughout the year. Lets take a look at some proof. The average time for school that is scheduled in a 4-day week is either 7:30am-5pm or 8am-5:30pm. In return, the number of disciplinary measures can also be reduced. 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. . 5. Less time in school could allow students the freedom to discover other interests that are fulfilling and stimulating. Rural families experience the greatest impacts from the 4-day school week. Thats two hours of lost time for farm chores, homework, or other responsibilities that rural families have more often than urban or suburban families. School districts save money. 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. 1. teams may need to practice, professional development sessions may convene, etc. It is also good for teachers and the whole school. For school districts struggling with funding issues, the potential savings here could save the budget. Pros. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that attendance improves; parents and teachers can schedule doctor's appointments and other weekday commitments for Fridays rather than during school days. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Class runs Monday- Thursday with an added 40-60 minutes each day to compensate for the lost time by not having the schools run on Fridays. Games occur in the evening, often on the weekend. Year round schools, can actually benefit students in the long run. There have been several studies that reported the 4-day school week had positive effects on students math and reading scores. (Lewis) In Bonneville, Idaho the school started later in the day which resulted in absences dropping 15%. However, disabled students often face additional challenges in accessing education and achieving academic success. There will be days, even with the best efforts of everyone involved, where a student is stuck with an after-hours activity, deep into the night, after being in class for most of the day. Students follow the same type of pattern. Extending the school day is a hot topic for educational policy making bodies. Should schools go to a 4 day school week instead of 5 days? Third, shorter days could reduce the amount of time that students spend on the bus or in the car, which would save money and reduce pollution. Lets face it our best school memories arent from tests or pop quizzes. There are a few reasons why shorter school days could be beneficial. 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. Disadvantage: Less time for extracurricular activities. Some students and parents have been advocating for shorter school days, and there is some evidence to suggest that shorter days could be beneficial. For the parents of younger students, an additional full day of daycare may need to be scheduled every week instead of a partial day. Why Should School Days Be Longer? (Best solution) Suffolk Public Schools went with a 7:25 am start time for their district and are saving almost $700,000 per year. As a result, students dont have to miss school to help out. Students with less sleep have difficulty paying attention in class and are likely to have lower grades. 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. I say this because we would have to start. This would help not only our school but also the parents if they cant afford the gas. From the moment you walk into the second you walk out. If school doesnt get out until 4pm, then the student makes it home at 5pm. Those human beings that seem larger than life and almost achieve Godlike status. Pro: In 2004, the school day was lengthened for a Massachusetts school to address the issue of underperforming students. Reasons Why the School Day Should Be Shorter - Synonym Students spend less time on the bus. The University of New Mexico Newsroom: Research Study Yields Unexpected Conclusion About Longer School Years. This can be due to a lack of accessible facilities and resources, or negative attitudes and misconceptions from teachers and classmates. 1. The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days. Other concerns with early school start times and the resulting insufficient sleep include: Increased likelihood for participating in risk-taking behaviors, such as bullying and fighting. Pros of Year-Round School. If so, keep reading. Data is an important variable if youre considering the longer school days pros and cons list. Financial problems is was most of a four day school week is about. Very Costly. There are some drawbacks to shorter school days, as well. You are more likely to face poverty: those who drop out of school without any plans, stare at poverty in the face without the option of getting out of it. There are a few potential drawbacks to shorter school days. At the same time, teacher attendance rates also rose, which is a trend still seen in these districts, 20+ years later. In many cases, it is in the best interests of students to reduce costs and have minimal impact on instruction. The Pros And Cons Of Shorter School Days - 1283 Words | Bartleby 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. Spread the loveBuilding a culturally responsive classroom is hard. The Pros and Cons of a Four-Day School Week - ThoughtCo Delaying school start times will assist students in developing the skills required to reach their full potential. The decision to implement such a schedule must therefore be handled at the local level. First and foremost, an extended school day would provide students with extra learning time. We can all agree that school feels like it lasts forever. The pros and cons of year-round school - Care.com Resources They can supervise their children at the bus stop in rural districts as well. 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. 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? There is no one answer to this question as every disabled students experience is unique. 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. There tends to be less student exhaustion, which allows them to focus more on the learning process. During class time, young kids who are too exhausted to concentrate or perform well may experience tiredness or fall asleep. Here are some additional key points to think about when looking at the pros and cons of a 4-day school week. When teachers are more effective and efficient, student performance follows a similar pattern. 10 Main Pros and Cons of 4 Day School Weeks - Green Garage To compare, a regular semester generally lasts 16-18 weeks. Special correspondent Lisa Stark of Education Week reports on the pros and cons for students, families and schools. In Peetz Colorado a debate is going on four a four day school week. Additional learning time as well as improved schedule alignment would make the lives of families noticeably more pleasant. The National School Board Association estimates that approximately 135,000 guns are brought to America's 85,000 public schools each day. Webster County, Kentucky moved their school district to a 4-day week in 2003. That may mean reducing Spring Break to 2 days instead of having the entire week off. The Cons of Longer School Days. On the plus side, employees love it. 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. School Evaluation For Special Education What Parents Need to Know, Effectively Educating Diverse Student Populations: Strategies That Work - Applead Hofu, The Importance Of Sight Words In Early Reading GoGreenva.org, Online Education in Chennai - Birla Brainiacs, Advancing Technology Education in Rural High Schools Across - The Tech Edvocate - VSAY .IN. If so, keep reading. recess has numerous benefits, including assisting students in reducing aggression and improving learning. 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. Accidents, absences, and absences all fall on the decline, and students academic performance rises. Four day school weeks have been discussed by many schools, and some schools already have them. In the Article by Lisa Lewis, it also talks about how delaying school by 1 hour produces the same benefit as shrinking class size by one-third or replacing a teacher in the 50th percentile of effectiveness with one in the 84th percentile.(Lewis). The Pros and Cons to Longer School Days 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. In 2009, there were 3,000 schools in the United States operating on a year-round basis. Students feel less pressure because they have more time to study at their own pace at home, especially in the later grades. 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. The four-day school is a phenomenon that has been sweeping across the U.S. This leads to added costs that some families, living paycheck to paycheck, may not be able to afford. Who Sang For Troy In High School Musical? Over the course of a 2-year period on this alternative schedule, they reported up to a 20% increase in student attendance. The pros and cons of longer days and shorter breaks - SecEd 5. Extended School Year Pros & Cons | GEDDES - raymondgeddes.com Out of a budget of $5.5 million, they saved $206,000. Changing the Moniteau County R-1 School districts schedule to a four-day week would be detrimental to students safety and involvement in activities. Students in the third through sixth grades have improved their ACT scores, according to studies. 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. They balk at the idea of kids attending schools with no summer break. Spread the loveThe International Baccalaureate Program is a very intensive pre-college program in which when students get involved, they get college credit. (Question). The Edvocate plans to be one of key architects of this revival, as it continues to advocate for education reform, equity, and innovation. Working a couple of hours after school gains experience and disposable income. Childrens schooldays should be around 8 hours long, and they should be school-aged all year. In this article, we will examine this question in depth. A poll where 2,700 random people were polled about 67% favoured a 4 day school week(university of Scranton). Spread the loveApplying for admission to professional and graduate schools is no less competitive than college/undergraduate admissions. It provides a realistic way for schools to remain open and also has added benefits beyond saving money. Well, for some rural schools across the nation, this has become a reality. In the United States, about 50% of all companies are either offering or thinking about offering a 4-day workweek for their workers. Those that had implemented the alternative scheduling found that student attendance could rise by more than 20. Students can adjust to the new schedule. Rural school districts and small school districts benefit the most from a 4-day schedule because of their natural isolation. There are 21 states that have four-day school districts. In Lexington, Oregon, Morrow County was able to save about $250,000 their first year, but out of a budget of $14 million. The Pros and Cons of Longer vs. Shorter Trips. One of the biggest concerns of a 4-day school week is the length of seat time that younger students must complete. When larger school districts attempt this kind of schedule, they find few, if any, benefits coming from their actions. The pros of year-round school Eliminating any sort of long break from school can improve a child's academic achievement. Your email address will not be published. So it is illogical to think that a four day week will help other grade levels. Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Mass., has risen from a Level 5 to a Level 1 after implementing extended learning time. The trade-off for a shorter week is a longer school day. In order to squeeze the regular five-day workload into four days, it would necessitate the closure of vital services on that additional day and the lengthening of working days on the other days. First, it would give students more time to focus on their homework and studies outside of school. Overall, a shorter school schedule resulted in a 7% increase in math scores and a 3% gain in reading. 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.