Four Day Schools?

I believe that by restructuring the school year schedule that students, parents, teachers, and administrators will benefit. Currently it is the norm for schools to operate on a five-day week with a summer break of approximately twelve weeks. I propose changing the school week to four days and shortening the summer break to four weeks. Here is my case for the change With summer vacations in the neighborhood of three months, students spend the first few weeks of the following school year getting acclimated to learning and studying. If the summer break were shorter students would arrive at school less rusty and would accomplish more in the early school year. In a research study it was determined that when diagnostic tests were taken “summer learning loss equaled at least one month of instruction as measured by grade level equivalents on standardized test scores—on average, children's tests scores were at least one month lower when they returned to school in fall than scores were when students left in spring.” This supports that over a long summer student’s regress in their schoolwork. With a four day school week students will be better able to balance in school and extracurricular demands. With a day free during the normal work week students are able to make appointments that would often take them away from school. This is also true with sports in which most students would be missing portions of their school day to travel to and compete in sporting events. Students could still have access to classrooms, computers, library, and the schools gym. Instead of sleeping in students will be able to use this extra day for completing school projects and other homework tasks that they may have. There are other important outcomes that have been shown in schools with four day school weeks. Results from most schools indicate an improvement in academic achievement. Also the Oakridge, Tennessee school district report teacher attendance rates to increased by over twenty percent, which decreases the need for substitute teachers who are less effective. Both faculty and administrative staff morale has been shown to improve with a shorter week. Lastly, students’ disciplinary incidents and absenteeism have also been shown to decrease. The end result of a change to a shorter school week is a more relaxed and effective school environment. In closing by restructuring the school year both to have a shorter four week summer break along with a four day school week will as I have shown provide tremendous benefit to our schools.