4-Day School Weeks Gaining in Popularity in U.S. - Campus Safety Magazine (2024)

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How popular are 4 day school weeks? ›

Four-day weeks have been adopted in almost 900 school districts nationwide, the Associated Press reported in September 2023 . That's up markedly from even four years earlier, in 2019, when about 650 districts in 24 states had adopted the schedule .

In addition, some studies have shown that student attendance improves under a four-day school week. With a longer weekend, students have more time to rest and engage in extracurricular activities, which can lead to better attendance during the week. This, in turn, can lead to improved academic performance.

Improved student performance: Some studies have shown that students perform better on standardized tests with the four-day week model. Retaining teachers: Shortening the school week has been found to improve teacher retention and job satisfaction.

Almost 2,100 schools in nearly 900 districts across 25 states have four-day school weeks, an increase of almost 850 percent since 1999, according to Paul Thompson, an associate professor of economics at Oregon State University who studies the impact of four-day weeks.

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. A shorter school week means fewer days of intense academics, allowing everyone to recharge over the long weekend.

Five-day schedules not only allow teachers to build the best relationship with the child and their family, but it ensures they can offer the best data on their continuing progress on developmental goals.

Overall, the study found that four-day school weeks significantly hurt students' fall-to-spring test score achievement in math by a 0.05 standard deviation and in reading by a 0.06 standard deviation. The shortened week's negative impact is greater for non-rural schools, according to the study.

An extra day of the weekend would give students an additional twenty-four hours to study or finish assignments. It would also give teachers more time to plan fun, interactive lessons that students are more engaged and interested in.

Shorter school days enforce healthier sleep schedules across many adolescents and boosts their ability to focus and learn in classes. Additionally, it gives students the freedom and opportunity to balance work and after school activities while also maintaining a proper sleep schedule.

Pros of a 4-day work week can include cost savings, increased productivity, and employee retention. Some disadvantages, however, can include scheduling challenges, reduced productivity, and added stress.

How does a four-day school week decrease bullying? ›

“Part of that is probably mechanical: They're spending less time in school,” she said. “So it depends on when we think bullying happens; if it happens at lunchtime and they actually now only have four days of lunch, instead of five days of lunch, that's a reduction in time that the bullying or fights might happen.

Public elementary and middle schools are closed on national holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Japanese schools have three semesters, separated by vacations.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 21 states have districts operating on a four-day schedule. Many are smaller and more rural districts in states such as Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. Other states, like Alaska, are considering legislation to pilot or allow four-day programs.

The four-day week appeared in the 1930s in South Dakota, then reappeared in New Mexico in the 1970s. Until the mid-2000s, the concept persisted but was not widespread. Then, in reaction to the 2008 recession, the four-day schedule saw a resurgence of popularity, but unlike other periods, it has not abated.

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.

A change in a public school code that Governor Josh Shapiro signed at the end of last year does allow for four-day school weeks in Pennsylvania. Here's how: instead of making it a requirement for students to go to school for 180 days and 990 hours a week, districts have the choice of 180 days or 990 hours a week.

“Part of that is probably mechanical: They're spending less time in school,” she said. “So it depends on when we think bullying happens; if it happens at lunchtime and they actually now only have four days of lunch, instead of five days of lunch, that's a reduction in time that the bullying or fights might happen.