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Many school districts operate on a schedule containing only four days a week. While more districts (60%) operate on a four-day schedule, the amount of students within these districts is significantly less. Only 14% of students attend one of these districts in Colorado
In Colorado, each student is required to attend at least 160 days or 1080 hours of instruction for the entire year. Poudre school district operates on a 176-day schedule. Some four-day school weeks operate on a 144-day school year with days lasting around 8 hours. Although the four-day week hasn’t made it to the ballot, many discussions surround its inclusion, and it is possible to see it in the future
For: Implementation of a 4-day week
The benefits of a four-day week range from the students to teachers to the school districts themselves. Although childcare issues will raise an issue, four-day school weeks will be better overall because they are cost-effective, increase attendance, and are widely supported by students.
On a four-day school week, many jobs would still operate on a five-day workweek. This raises an issue about where children will go on these days. The childcare costs for the day might be hard for certain families. However, in one of the larger districts in Denver that has switched to the four-day week 27j provides an off-day schedule for those families. In the 27J district the off-day the kids in programs consisting of “academic, leisure and recreational activities” according to the 27J district's official website. However, even with this superintendent Will Pierce says “fewer than 300 kids using the off-day program in the district of 20,000 students.”
Cost benefits for the school will allow the spending to go elsewhere, such as CTC, art and, project classes. According to the National Conference of State Legislators “maximum possible cost savings for districts on a four-day week is 5.43%, but average savings range from 0.4% to 2.5%.” With one less day of school buses, food, and janitors would not have to be paid for these days. This money can be allotted towards other things, expanding and improving opportunities provided in schools
The increased attendance is another reason many schools have switched to a four-day school week. For students attendance has increased according to RAND researchers showing “ four-day weeks had an average attendance rate of 93.4 percent, compared with a 92.9 percent average attendance rate in the comparison districts with a five-day week.” People simply would rather attend a four-day school than a five-day school. A survey of district 27j showed that “nearly 80% and 85% of teachers support the schedule” usually pointing to “Quality of life” as to why. Districts have been using this advantage to recruit and retain teachers.
Against: Implementation of a 4-day week
In Larimer County Colorado debate is on the rise over maintaining the five-day school week. As other districts have already implemented the four-day school week, The proposal is gaining attention. Advocates of the traditional structure argue that the schedule goes far beyond the classroom as it also impacts the community. Within the structure of a four-day week consistency is a concern. traditional structure upholds family convenience and similarity with parent work schedules. With this consistent stability, students are provided with a structured environment where teachers can expand and cover material, whilst having more time to connect and help students.
Keystone policy centers, doing less with less research report, shows Colorado school districts that have adopted the four-day calendar tended to be in smaller and rural areas. Although in 2022 and 2023 an increase of four-day weeks in bigger districts has been seen. Within these years, despite more than 60% of districts being on the four day, only 14% of students attended one of these district districts. On average the four-day district schools have under 1000 students. Comparatively five-day districts are almost 10,000.
The varying population sizes adopting the four-day week see different advantages and disadvantages, smaller schools benefit from cost savings and flexibility. Although larger schools will face more challenges. When shortening a school week schools with 800-2000+ suffer with overcrowding, curriculum, equity, and understaffing.
Reduced days cut down the individual time a student can have with their teacher, as staff have to reduce and often limit instructional time. All 800-2000+ students are concentrated into fewer days of instruction, often leading to overcrowding and congested learning.
This extra day means they need to find alternatives. This can cause budget reductions, especially in single-parent families with multiple children.
Teachers are facing intense workdays with shortened weeks. If teachers are supported the benefits should provide relief, although this can be overshadowed by compressed schedules, stress, and less time with the diverse student population. To meet requirements for understanding and achievement teachers often cram material into the few hours or day they have with their students. This can lead to longer school days, longer periods, fewer breaks or restricted downtime. Leading to burnout in not only students but their teachers as well. This is more dire in understaffed schools where resources and community are already limited.
Anderson, D. Mark, and Mary Beth Walker. “Does Shortening the School Week Impact Student Performance? Evidence from the Four-Day School Week.” Education Finance and Policy, July 2015
Breunlin, Erica. “Colorado School Enrollment This Year Is at Its Lowest Level in a Decade. What Does That Mean for K-12 Education?” The Colorado Sun, 17 Jan. 2024, coloradosun.com/2024/01/17/colorado-schools-student-enrollment-decline-birth-rates/.
“Doing Less with Less: How a Four-Day School Week Affects Student Learning and the Teacher Workforce - Keystone Policy Center.” Keystone Policy Center, 10 Sept. 2024, www.keystone.org/doing-less-with-less-how-a-four-day-school-week-affects-student-learning-and-the-teacher-workforce/.
Against section done by: Audri Whatley is a current senior at PHS, she enjoys running, art, hiking, road trips, and general outdoor activities. This is her first year with Poudre Press yet she has previous skills in design and editing. Outside of high school she plans on making a career out of photography, specializing in wildlife and nature. Her journalistic focus is on our world and its amazing changes, discoveries, and mysteries!
For section done by: Turtle Modesitt is a junior here at Poudre, this will be his first year within the Poudre press. Playing as a wingback for the varsity soccer team. Outside of school, his interests include skiing, rafting and being outdoors. Post-graduation he plans on traveling the world and taking a gap year before eventually going back to school. Taking a large interest in school his column will dive into the meaning and influence of albums focusing heavily on the HipHop and RnB genres.
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