The Contagion of the Four-Day Week

Teacher and student attendance rates have improved, community feedback has been positive, and student discipline problems have declined.There are no conclusive data that the four-day schedule has a greater negative impact on certain student populations, but teachers and administrators fear this may be the case for elementary school students, English language learners, special education students and students who struggle academically.Parents of elementary' students receiving special education services wen? about twice as likely to say they' prefer returning to a five-day week Studies of the four-day school week show it reduces behavior referrals and, in some cases, it has been correlated with increased graduation rates.Staff Unpreparedness Superintendents assume the burden of explaining the idea to parents, gaining teacher cooperation, rearranging bus and activity schedules, adjusting the hours and pay of non-salaried workers and tracking spending closely to wring out financial benefits.