Persuasive Essay Example on Four Day School Week

Four-day school weeks are starting to become as normal as a traditional five-day school week.  There are many beneficial elements to a four-day week.  Financial benefits, improved attendance, and more teachers are just a few of them.  A large number of students, parents, and teachers would prefer a four-day week.  While parents have some concerns about their students' growth, the reduction has proven to be insignificant.  In the end, four-day weeks are more convenient.

Financial problems are becoming more common in school districts because of transportation, power, food, etc.  Transporting students for four, rather than five, days a week is already saving so much money.  Lesser power would be used by districts because the school would not be open as  long as it would be during a five-day week.  Meals will only be provided for the four school days.  According to Stephen Sawchuk, superintendents noted that although a small amount of money was saved, it would be enough to hire an additional reading coach or fund another program.  Having the money to hire more teachers is a privilege not many five-day schools have.

Losing teachers is a problem that is becoming harder to solve.  Many are retiring, and few are searching for jobs.  Some schools don’t have enough money to hire extra teachers or substitutes, but a four-day week makes that possible.  According to, “Four-Day School Week Overview,” “District administrators also claim that the appeal of a four-day week helps recruit teachers in areas where it is consistently difficult to attract new staff.”  When in need of more teachers, a four-day week can help draw some in.  More people will want to go to school and into teaching because of the appeal of the four-day week.

Student truancy is another big concern school districts have.  Absenteeism not only occurs with students, but oftentimes teachers, too.  A four-day week can help lessen the number of absences at school because of the appeal.  According to “Educational Achievement and the Four-Day Week,” “Shoemaker (2002) stated that ‘Experts have documented increased attendance, improved moral, and fewer disciplinary problems in four-day schools.’” .  Shoemaker was talking about both students and teachers.  Another added benefit with teachers attending school more often is saving money due to less of a need for substitute teachers. 

Although there are many benefits of four-day weeks, there are drawbacks, too.  Parents are concerned about student growth, or academic performance, falling short. Well, studies show that the growth does decrease, but not significantly.  According to “What happens to student learning in four-day districts?”, “In all, the declines were on the order of between 0.5 to 0.15 of a standard deviation lower after three years, and around 0.2 of a standard deviation after eight years.”.  The findings show that the decrease is not something parents should be alarmed about.

All in all, four-day school weeks are rewarding for parents, students, and teachers.  The whole school district can save money on transportation, food, power, and many more things.  Teachers will be drawn in by the appeal of the four-day week, and will not want to miss as many days of school as they would with a five day week, nor would the students.  Although student growth will fall short, the decrease is not major.  Four-day school weeks will be able to please everyone with few downsides.