The idea of switching from five day school weeks to a four day schedule has been brought up many times over the years. As schools look for ways to improve learning and reduce stress, many are wondering if fewer school days could lead to better results.
Supporters say it could help students feel less stressed and more rested, giving everyone an extra day to catch up on their personal well being, like doing homework, sleeping, getting a job, or going to practice. Teachers could use that day for planning lessons or grading, which might make the school days they do have more productive. Some schools already using this schedule have seen better attendance and happier students and staff.
However, there are some downsides to think about. Parents might have a hard time finding childcare on the extra day off, and younger students could miss out on important learning time. Longer school days to make up for the shorter week might also leave students feeling tired or distracted. It’s a big change, and schools have to decide if the positives are worth the possible negatives.
Each year the local board of education needs to adopt a calendar consisting of 215 days. The school calendar shall incorporate 185 days or 1,025 hours of instruction covering the nine months given. If we shorten our school weeks into four days we would be left with a little over 9 hour school days, which would be impractical.
While the schedule might seem difficult to adjust, some schools in other states have managed to make the four day week work by reorganizing class time and focusing on efficiency in the classroom. They often see improvements in student morale and attendance, even if the days are longer. The idea is that with an extra day off, students and teachers can rest, handle personal responsibilities, and come back more focused. This possibility has encouraged many people in our community to wonder whether the benefits could outweigh the scheduling issues.
Juliet Richardson, a student at Green Level said, “I think more kids would be motivated to come to school because there is not as much demand, and the attendance would be higher because we have more time for appointments and scheduled things with an extra day off.”
Although big changes like this can be overwhelming, many people think that exploring something different – like a four day school week – could open up important conversations about students’ wellness, motivation, and the overall school environment. Any major switch would need students, staff, and parents to work together.
Some administrators point out that changing the school calendar isn’t just about the students schedules or extra sleep, it comes with a lot of practical factors to figure out. They have to look at things like transportation routes, lunch programs, and keeping after-school activities running smoothly.
Right now, schools across the country are experimenting with different schedules, but Green Level hasn’t started that conversation yet. Some might wonder if trying a four day school week could help reduce stress and give students more balance, while others may worry it could make long days even harder to manage. It’s a topic worth bringing up. Should our school explore the idea of a shorter week to see if it benefits students and teachers, or is the traditional schedule still the better fit for us?
