Four Day School Week Essay

A reduction in school financial cost may be a great factor considered when moving to a four-day school week. Transportation costs are reduced, as well as utility costs to the school. It would save a lot of money, especially in rural districts. Money would also be saved by the reduction in use of electricity and by not paying the employees for the fifth day of the week. Researchers report that districts implementing a four-day week have found savings on utilities, school buses, cafeteria programs, long-term building wear and tear, as well as, the pay for substitute teachers. In their evaluation of the implementation of a four-day week in Webster County, KY, Yarbrough and Gilman report savings amounting to two percent of the school system’s budget. An
Oakridge School District Superintendent Don Kordosky reported that test scores improved after his school in Oregon implemented the four-day school week. Also, Peach County in Fort Valley, Georgia, has seen a gradual gain in its graduation rate since adopting the new four day school week. The school districts using the four-day school week, state that students are more focused with less breaks in the school day and have more opportunities for in depth learning due to less disruptions. Students have the opportunity to explore independent learning in areas of interest on their extra day out of school, and some high school students are using the time to take internships. In a study of schools in New Mexico’s schools operating on a four day schedule, McCoy elementary school demonstrates that students’ achievements actually improved. Also performance on standardized tests remained above state and national averages. Cimarron, New Mexico’s results show more gains on the four day schedule that those made on the five day schedule according to a summary of test score results given to them by Grau and Shaugnessy. Yarborough and