The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically; therefore we must think outside of the box with how we’re educating people.
Colorado is making national news with implementing a four-day school week starting the FY18-19 school year. Reports are showing that the 4 day school week will be implemented mainly in rural counties to help with budgeting for schools. There are pro’s and con’s of a 4 day school week. Although Colorado schools are using the four-day school week to help save dollars, Georgia can implement this as a way to revive educational growth. I believe it’s a worth while investment for Georgia schools to look into the pro’s and con’s of having a four-day school week. It is time we truly think outside of the box in how we’re educating our children and preparing them for workforce.
What are some positive aspect of a four-day school week?
- Fiscal and budget savings
- Improved student and faculty attendance
- Increase in student achievement
- Decreases the number of student discipline issues
What are some challenges with a four-day school week?
- Parent work schedules
- Child care and programming
- Longer school days
- School calendar (holidays, school breaks, etc)
Should Georgia school districts move to a four-day school week?
Yes, Georgia school districts should consider moving to a four-day school week! A four-day school week can allow for school districts to prepare lessons that truly involve life applications, service learning and college/career readiness experience. Four day work weeks will allow school districts to have more flexibility on how we are:
- Preparing students for college
- Reducing the number of students in the school to prison pipeline (service learning days)
- Improved retention rates of educators
- Increased student attendance
- Enhanced career readiness focused schools (through time management and scheduling)
Why a four-day school week?
I believe that Georgia schools should implement a four-day school week. I believe it would help with student achievement. Innovation has been proven to work in various charter schools in Georgia. I believe this type of innovation in public traditional and public charter schools would help more Georgia students to be better prepared for college. Four days on and one day focused on students practicing learning targets. As it stands, school five days a week isn’t cutting it. More days and more time hasn’t proven to be the best model.
Having a four-day school week allows schools to change how curriculum is developed and delivered. It could be a solution to reducing the number of students in the school to prison pipeline by using the day off as a service learning day. This would allow for real life application to actually be included in the curriculum. Each school district should work to have a school partner that can provide resources for service learning. This can include internships, service learning classes, field trips and STEM labs. This type of innovation would impact teacher and student morale in a positive way. Thus improving retention rates of faculty and staff and increasing student attendance.
What could a 4 day school week look like in Georgia?
Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., after school 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., before care, 7:00 a.m.,
Friday – Professional Learning Day 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Leadership Team meetings
- Data meetings
- Professional Learning: teachers
Service Learning for students facilitated by school partners
- internships (8th – 12th grades)
- service learning classes (k – 12)
- field trips including college and high school tours
- STEM labs (elementary/Science labs, middle/technology labs, high school/engineering labs)
Jason has worked in education for over 15 years as a teacher, blogger and community advocate. He speaks and writes primarily about the need to improve education for Black boys, particularly increasing the number of Black male educators in schools. In addition to blogging here at EdLanta, Jason is also a featured writer at Education Post.