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TexasTowelie

(116,761 posts)
Fri Mar 17, 2017, 05:14 PM Mar 2017

The Four-Day School Week Is Becoming More Popular In Rural Districts

The implementation of a four-day school week is a growing trend in rural school districts across the country. Currently, 88 districts in Colorado, 43 in Idaho, 30 in Oregon, and nearly half of the districts in Montana have adopted this non-traditional school schedule, according to the Brookings Institute.

The motivation behind this truncated school week is to help save the schools' and districts' money on various operating costs like janitors and heating. An extra 30 to 90 minutes of schooling at the end of each day is meant to supplement the loss of a fifth day.

Former Secretary of Education Paul Reville told Boston Public Radio Wednesday his concerns about the increasing popularity of the four-day school week. Reville believes that not only does a four-day week not save money, it is also can be detrimental to a child’s education.

“The research is beginning to show that the savings aren’t anything near what was predicted, and yet at the same time, we are leaving a lot of kids in rural communities who don’t have much access to other constructive resources or opportunities in the day with an extra day on their own. I think that’s potentially problematic,” said Reville.

Read more: http://news.wgbh.org/2017/03/15/local-news/four-day-school-week-becoming-more-popular-rural-districts

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The Four-Day School Week Is Becoming More Popular In Rural Districts (Original Post) TexasTowelie Mar 2017 OP
In rural districts it probably saves quite a bit on cost of busing the kids radical noodle Mar 2017 #1
"Beginning to show." Igel Mar 2017 #2
And this can cause an additional financial burden on the parents. IndyJones Mar 2017 #3

radical noodle

(8,579 posts)
1. In rural districts it probably saves quite a bit on cost of busing the kids
Fri Mar 17, 2017, 05:31 PM
Mar 2017

Just a guess. I've heard about some schools charging for the school bus because it's become so expensive.

Igel

(36,082 posts)
2. "Beginning to show."
Sat Mar 18, 2017, 02:23 PM
Mar 2017

In other words there are some tentative data they like, and we'd best build permanent policy to meet our goals before it's disconfirmed.

IndyJones

(1,068 posts)
3. And this can cause an additional financial burden on the parents.
Sat Mar 18, 2017, 11:35 PM
Mar 2017

Many probably have to pay for daycare for that day off of school each week.

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