Should schools adopt a four-day week?
For many of us, a four-day school week sounds like a scenario far from the reality of our everyday lives. And the same can be said about four days of work before the Covid-19 crisis. However, according to the APA’s US survey, in 2024, 22% of employees said their employers offered a four-day work option. So does that mean that the education system cards have also been reduced to a week? The truth is that this system has been around for a long time. In 2019, almost 1600 schools implemented, but this number rose to 2100 in 2024. This article discusses what is related to the transition to shortening school weeks, as well as the benefits and challenges that various research has uncovered so far.
How does a four-day school week work?
Because there is no fixed method for transitioning from the traditional five-day week to four-day reduction, weekly schedules may appear different from school to school. However, the main principle is that students and teachers need to be in schools one day a week. The holidays are usually Monday or Friday. Give students and teachers free time to tackle personal and professional development, rest and spend more time with friends and family. “Lost” days are usually balanced by extending the remaining days, but some schools choose to keep the same school hours even after reducing the day.
Benefits of transitioning to a four-day school week
Recruiting teachers is easy
The past few years have been difficult for teachers. The low pay and challenges associated with the pandemic have reduced enthusiasm for the job, as 78% of respondents in this survey pointed out. However, providing a more flexible schedule seems to be effective in attracting and retaining teachers as it reduces commute time and expenses and gives them more time to plan classes. More importantly, schools with four-day weeks have received applications from more qualified candidates.
Cost-effective
One of the main benefits of shifting from five weeks to four days is reducing school district costs. One day of the school week is less than one day to pay for the transportation, meals and overall operation of students. For example, when Pueblo County School District 70 in Colorado adopted a four-day school week, they saved the reported 2% from the district budget. This may seem unimportant, but it will be $1.1 million that can be used for other important purposes.
More free time for students and educators
More free time is the immediate effect of shortening school weeks. For students, this requires four hours of free time per week, including spending time with family and friends, doing chores, attending sporting events without missing classes. For teachers, saving time they save, they can have more flexibility for them, run errands, make personal appointments, and spend quality time with their loved ones. This can lead to improved work-life balance, thus reducing burnout and fewer health-related absences.
There are few cases of bullying
A very positive effect that has been attracting attention in schools that adopted a four-day week is the reduction in bullying and combat incidents. The data, like this 2019 survey, reported that participating schools reported a 39% decline in bullying cases and 31% decline in combat. Although this study did not provide any particular insight into the reasons behind this positive effect, it is important to note that no particular effect was observed for ACT scores or student attendance.
Issues to keep in mind
Potential inequality
There are also drawbacks for the four-day school week. While some parents view shorter schedules favorably as they can give their children more time, low-income families with two working parents may have trouble covering the additional childcare costs. Needless to say, within a day at school, there’s no need to mention the negative effects that can have on children experiencing food anxiety. These issues should be seriously considered before deciding to move on to a shorter schedule.
Long-term learning
As mentioned before, to remove a day from your weekly schedule, most schools will have to extend the remaining four days of school hours. It can be up to 2 hours each day and 10-15 minutes for each class time. This increase can be challenging for younger students with generally low attention, for nervous or other students with learning difficulties. This could be countered with more breaks throughout the day, but it remains an issue that needs to be explained.
There is no proven positive effect on learning
Studies on the effect of four-day school week on learner performance have mixed results, most of which have been found to have slight improvement or even negative effects. However, it is important to note that lowest scores are observed in schools operating under 30 hours a week. There was no negative impact on schools that were operating for more than 32 hours. Another study found that student achievement was growing more slowly in school for the four-day week compared to the five-day week.
Future considerations
If you conclude the results of various studies conducted in recent years on the impact and effectiveness of four-day school week, you will notice that there is no clear consensus. Although there is a positive correlation between teacher retention and student satisfaction, data does not significantly affect cost reductions and student performance. This school model may require additional improvements and regulations to be effective in the majority of schools.
However, it appears to be working very well in rural areas. Survey data show that 84% of parents and 95% of students in short week school districts prefer to maintain this schedule rather than returning to the traditional five-day week. The effectiveness of this initiative in these areas suggests that additional support from the community is essential for successful four-day school week. This includes changing parents’ work schedules and providing childcare support. Overall, the movement has gained traction all over the world, with countries like the US, France, Iceland and Japan doing it in certain districts. Be sure to carefully examine the short pros and cons of school week and make the necessary adjustments to meet the needs of both students and staff.
