The school week should be four days long (2024)

FAQs

Why should schools be 4 days a week? ›

A four-day school week makes this ratio more even (4:3) and could reinvigorate students and increase their learning capability. A study by the Life School of Dallas has shown that a four-day school week helps with mental health and wellbeing, which can lead to potentially higher test scores.

An expanded school schedule engages students more fully, and children learn better in a more stimulating environment. By reducing the pressure on the system to cram math and reading and science into too few hours, the new school day opens up the schedule for subjects that students enjoy and teachers like to teach.

Rand.org found a 4-day week had other positive effects on: Reduced parental stress. Improved student mental health. Improved school climate.

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.

While the mean test scores for five-day week schools exceeded those of four-day week schools in 11 of the 12 test comparisons, the differences were slight, with only one area revealing a statistically significant difference.

Some states want to discourage four-day school weeks

But in recent years, just shy of 1,000 districts in states like Arizona , Arkansas , Colorado , Kansas , Nebraska , New Mexico , North Dakota , Oregon , and Texas have moved to a four-day weekly schedule, often dropping either Monday or Friday.

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.

Much like how adults tend to feel “done” after 8 hours, children also reach their limit. A 7-hour day at school or childcare, mirroring this rhythm, ensures that they are engaged and receptive during their learning hours.

Kids Should go to School Only 3 Days a Week By carl

More and more students don't get enough rest from school. For one reason, they get too much homework and too many assignments. Secondly, they'll have time to review assignments. Lastly, they can be prepared and ready and not have to be stressed out.

The RAND researchers estimated that the districts with four-day school weeks that they studied had slightly higher attendance than comparable districts with a five-day week.

Does a 4 day school week decrease bullying? ›

Results indicate that four-day school weeks decrease per-pupil bullying incidents by approximately 31% and per-pupil fighting incidents by approximately 27%, but have no detectable effect on other incident types, ACT scores, or attendance.

Pilot studies in countries including the U.K., Spain, Portugal, and South Africa suggest that shorter workweeks can help employees reduce burnout, manage stress, get more sleep and exercise, spend additional quality time with loved ones, and feel all-around happier and healthier.

A shorter week can reduce student fatigue and increase engagement during school hours. Additionally, the extra day off can provide students with more opportunities for rest, family activities, and independent learning.

Easier on Parents

To fill the gap, working parents have to arrange for childcare, enroll their kids in an after-school program, or simply work less. This can cause a lot of headaches and financial stress. A longer school day can help alleviate some of the childcare burdens parents currently face.

Impact on Mental Health

Let's talk mental health – or rather, the mental Olympics that come with longer school hours. Burnout becomes a common theme, turning minds into mush faster than microwave popcorn. Less sleep than a caffeinated owl doesn't make for happy test scores or enthusiastic students.

“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.

However, this trend does not continue in California, where only two districts, Leggett Valley Unified in Mendocino County and Big Sur Unified in Monterey County, have shortened their school week.