A four-day school week has gained attention as a potential solution to improve student well-being and academic performance. By reducing the traditional five-day school week to four days, students are granted an extra day of relaxation, allowing them to recharge and be more focused during their time in school. One of the key advantages of a four-day school week is the increased opportunity for students to get the rest they need. With the demanding schedules and workload that students face, having an additional day off can alleviate stress and promote better mental health. This can result in improved concentration, higher levels of engagement, and ultimately better academic performance. Not only does a four-day school week benefit students, but it also has positive implications for teachers. By having an extra day off, educators have more time for professional development, lesson planning, and collaboration with their colleagues. This can lead to increased job satisfaction and a more energized teaching staff, ultimately benefiting the quality of education provided to students. A four-day school week can lead to cost savings for school districts. With one less day of operation, schools can reduce expenses related to transportation, utilities, and other operational costs. This can free up resources that can be redirected toward other educational programs or initiatives, enhancing the overall educational experience for students. Lastly, a four-day school week allows for greater flexibility in scheduling. The additional day off can be utilized for various purposes, such as extracurricular activities, community service, or internships. This offers students the opportunity to explore their interests outside of the traditional classroom setting and develop valuable skills that can contribute to their personal and academic growth. “I would love it because it would give me a longer weekend to do stuff in my free time,” senior Mallory Graham stated. While there are potential challenges and considerations to address, such as longer school days and childcare arrangements for working parents, the benefits of a four-day school week are worth exploring further. It has the potential to improve student well-being, enhance teacher satisfaction, and create a more efficient and flexible educational system.
FAQs
Why Schools Should Convert to Four-Day Weeks? ›
Proponents argue that reducing the number of days students attend classes may yield savings in transportation, facilities, and personnel costs. At present, the four-day school week is being used in more than 120 school districts across the country, in states including New Hampshire, Colorado and New Mexico.
Why should schools switch to a four-day week? ›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.
Why are 5 day school weeks better than 4? ›Even if they might not be able to fully articulate their emotions, children share our sentiments towards inconsistency. 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 a 4 day school week improve mental health? ›Rand.org found a 4-day week had other positive effects on: Reduced parental stress. Improved student mental health. Improved school climate.
Does a 4 day school week improve test scores? ›We found that school leaders, teachers, and parents in districts with a four-day week reported that test scores were equal to, or even better than, results from before the policy was adopted.
Why we should switch to a 4 day work week? ›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.
Why more schools are considering a 4 day week despite some drawbacks? ›More than 2,100 public schools in 25 states have switched to a four-day school week, often in hopes of recruiting teachers, saving money and boosting student attendance, researchers estimate.
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.
Why are 3 day weekends good for students? ›Three-day weekends are a breath of fresh air in a packed academic term, a reminder to stop and slow down, remember that you're a person too, not just something that goes from class to class, activity to activity.
What states have a 4-day school week? ›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.
Do 4 day school weeks improve attendance? ›
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.
What are the interesting effects 4 day weeks may have on school climate? ›Proponents of the schedule claim that it improves school climate and student behavior, but the evidence is mixed. In support of the claim, research shows the four-day week significantly reduces high school bullying and fighting incident rates and increases the amount of sleep elementary students get.
Would a four-day work week improve mental health? ›Employees who shift to a four-day workweek may experience less burnout, stress, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep problems, new research shows.
Is the four-day school week detrimental to student success? ›Many public schools, particularly rural schools, have modified their schedule so students and teachers attend school only four days each week. The four-day school week, over seven years, has been responsible for serious declines in student achievement as measured by criterion referenced testing in one western state.
Why should school days be longer? ›Students who are already keeping up have a chance to explore more. In science, longer classes allow students to carry out experiments from beginning to end in a single session. No instructional technique benefits from a rushed school day. “More time on task really makes a difference for our students,” says Dr.
Which countries have a 4 day school week? ›Iceland, Japan, and France are among the countries that have begun to adopt a four-day week in some sectors, with that extra day typically being allotted on either Wednesday or Friday, or being left to individuals' discretion. But this kind of set up might not be for everyone.
What are the negative effects of a 4 day school week? ›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.
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.
Why school days should be reduced? ›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.