Abstract
Autonomy is becoming more and more necessary as technology develops. Different parts of the educational system must adapt to modern technological advancements. Technology facilitates work; schools should take advantage of this to raise and modify their policies to provide new and better ways to teach kids; policy reformation is the most significant course of action to achieve this. Despite technological improvements, many countries have used the same educational system for a long time. The United States is no exception; there were no educational changes until 1983, but after that, various reforms guaranteed that the quality of education was following industrial requirements.
Technology is driving these advances, and the education industry seeks to ensure that it makes the most of them by enacting new policies that will help mentor, experiment, and enhance student comprehension. As a result of technological advancement, there have also been unique and improved teaching techniques, such as introducing briefings in schools where students may observe how trials are conducted. In addition, students now have the opportunity to perform experiments, as opposed to the conventional method of instruction, which had no chance to do so.
Introduction
National school reform refers to the policies implemented to improve education. Schools benefit from reforms because improved procedures and rules may be developed to make the educational process easier for teachers and students. Improvements in the education system typically aim to contribute to a healthier culture with more significant people and employees.
Education should promote mental, physical, and intellectual growth (Reimers, 2020). The three attributes above are vital in one’s life, and it is necessary to ensure they are provided through the educational system. Several changes have been implemented to guarantee that education is inclusive and comprehensive. A better education system should provide students with industry-relevant information and skills. This article will concentrate on reduced school weeks to guarantee that the best reforms are in place.
Shortened School Weeks
The amount spent on education fell by about $850 per child between 2008 and 2013, while the amount of municipal financing per student fell by $175. In 2016, 25 jurisdictions continued to receive structural formula support at levels below 2008. Currently, spending has grown in several counties. Compensation packages climbed by 22% between 2005 and 2014, and the cost of retiring or annuity went from 4.8 to 10% of total expenditures for every student (Reimers, 2020).
Many educational institutions have had to boost spending or cut expenses due to financial constraints. Several rural school districts have pushed for four-day school weeks to conserve money and reduce financial pressures. Since the 1930s, four-day workweeks have been the standard in the United States, and the proportion of schools using them has grown.
Where the Program Is Used
Four-day school weeks have been used in Dakota South since the 1930s, with more recent programs starting in the 1970s. From roughly 2018 to 2019, at least one government school ran with a four-day school week in twenty-four jurisdictions, up from 17 jurisdictions a few decades before. Around 1,500 schools in 600 (six hundred) districts operate on a four-day week.
The first four-day workweeks were instituted in Oregon in 1983 (Azano et al., 2022). Since then, there have been steady increases in the number of institution districts adopting these schedules, with the two primary waves of adoption occurring between 2003 1997 and 2013 and 2009. A four-day school week is provided by at most one government school in each of the twenty-four states. A significant portion of the areas that support 4-day workweeks for education in the various jurisdictions, which have made them lawful, are small, rural areas. Oregon is not one of those states’ exceptions.
While most 4-day colleges operate from Monday through Thursday, a few opt to do so from Tuesday through Friday. Teaching days are prolonged to give an equivalent period of time for educational practices across shorter intervals, as state law requires. Other academic institutions could provide optional enrichment classes and individual instruction or set aside time for tutor professional development on the fifth day. The best data indicate that at least one institution operates on a four-day schedule in around 560 jurisdictions throughout 25 states (Goldring, 2020). These regions make up more than 50% of Montana, Colorado, Oregon, and Oklahoma, where several counties have opted to work four days each week.
Implementation
School timetables are determined by modest legislative instruction requirements linked to financial methods. Schools that fail to provide the minimum number of teaching hours required by the government would earn less money. Because of this, only companies in nations where a 4-day workweek is permitted are likely to attempt it (Reimers, 2020). Additionally, some states utilize flexible standards, intricate organizational guidelines, or an approval procedure for exceptions to let districts choose between a 4-day teaching week and a 5-day instructional week.
Legislators’ involvement in this process varies to a degree. Numerous statutes expressly forbid the choice of 4-day workweeks for schools, asserting that assessments may also be done on the first day of class. They may allow flexibility in scheduling for a minute or an hour.
To transition to a 4-day school week, some jurisdictions impose additional restrictions on public schools, but they must actively supervise the operation or keep track of the number of locations that do so. Municipalities may need to submit their four-day schedules to the state-funded superintendent or commissioner for approval in some areas. Districts in California can introduce a 4-day school week until the necessary legislation is passed (Murphy, 2022). A law in California in 2014 said any institution’s license to run a four-day program would be revoked if it did not meet the state’s educational performance criteria.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Public schools nationwide are cutting costs innovatively, which will put social stakeholders to the test. One example is changing to a four-day workweek in the classroom. The 4-day schedule, which has been used for over fifty years, is accepted by more than 570 of the 15000 educational institutions in the US (Jennings, 2020).
Moreover, a four-day program can give instructors additional possibilities for professional growth and help educational districts save money. Still, it also has drawbacks for those involved in education. Therefore, schools should thoroughly consider the advantages and disadvantages of this move.
Several variables might impact learners’ progress if the weekly schedule is changed. Consider first how the teachers will receive the new arrangement. Extended class periods allow teachers to plan lessons and employ various teaching strategies. According to educators, minimal time is wasted during the four-day workweek, giving teachers more time to teach (Jennings, 2020). Practical information indicates that lecturers may successfully manage their time since their lectures are more focused, and longer session blocks promote curricular uniformity. In some areas, the day off supports faculty cooperation and aids instructors in lesson planning.
Another instructor impact might be reduced teacher turnover and absenteeism; teacher turnover has been associated with improved student success. Although it is still being determined if the 4-day school week has decreased teacher turnover, several educational institutions have seen a decline in teacher absenteeism since the new program’s adoption. Lastly, a distinctive effect might be that teachers love the 4-day workweeks, which boosts output (Goldring, 2020).
This may be consistent with research findings on the four-day workweek and employees’ pleasure. Additionally, proponents of four-day school weeks claim that these expenditures are incurred even when there is a small savings cost. According to actual data, tutors and parents can schedule medical appointments and additional weekday commitments for Fridays rather than during school days. Additionally, district management contends that the allure of a four-day workweek helps with teacher recruiting in places where it is typically challenging to find new personnel.
Critics claim that teachers may first struggle to change their pedagogical approaches to the new setup. A survey by an Idaho school district found that 24% of teachers said the longer school days during the shorter week had caused them to feel more stressed and worn out (Azano et al., 2022). Additionally, opponents claim that long school days are difficult for students, particularly primary school students.
Because of the four-day school week, families or individuals who cannot afford to engage in affordable help on the fifth day of school may struggle. Additionally, students at risk for food insecurity may not get adequate nutrition throughout the school day. Finally, transportation may prevent students from participating in optional programs offered by institutions on the fifth day of the week.
Conclusion
The global recession caused significant reductions in educational funding, which has put a financial hardship on some school systems. Because it has been challenging to raise more taxes, these financial strains have continued even after the Global Great Recession. This is primarily due to ongoing declines in real estate values, constraints on how much money may be made, and a slowdown in recouping government-funding rates.
The need to reduce expenses or increase investment has forced educational institutions to develop innovative techniques. Initial measures used by educational institutions to address their financial problems included tightening course options, increasing class sizes, firing staff members, and implementing student activity fees (Goldring, 2020). In addition, the four-day school week was introduced to save operating costs. On the other hand, favorable factors support the concept of implementing a 4-day school week.
Following the adoption of the 4-day workweek, numerous school districts noticed increased staff and student attendance, decreased student discipline concerns, and more meaningful connections among students during extracurricular activities. In addition, once adopted, parents, children, and employees frequently liked the four-day plan.
However, while a 4-day workweek may help teachers and improve student achievement, some drawbacks exist. For example, critics claim that teachers may need help to adapt their pedagogical strategies to the new system. However, this study finds that cutting the school week from five to four days has more advantages than disadvantages. Thus, school districts should adopt it to improve student performance.
References
Azano, A. P., Eppley, K., & Biddle, C. (2022). The Bloomsbury handbook of rural education in the United States. Bloomsbury Academic.
Goldring, R. (2020). Shortened School Weeks in U.S. Public Schools.
Jennings, J. (2020). Fatigued by School Reform. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Murphy, J. (2022). Your Children Are Very Greatly in Danger. Cornell University Press.
Reimers, F. M. (2020). Audacious Education Purposes.