Exploring the 4 Day School Week
February 21, 2024
Edition #1
Here's What We've Learned
Thank you for your feedback on the parent survey. Because 58% were in favor of exploring the 4 day school week and 29% were undecided about the option, we've moved forward and done some digging on this topic. Please take time to read all the information provided.
Mrs. Piazzola worked at Noxon Public School a K-12 as a 1st grade teacher with a modified 4 day school week. What did she learn from this experience?
- Only 25% of the Noxon Community was in favor of the 4 day week, but by spring, 75% were in favor of it. They are still doing the 4 day school week
- Parents said they'd need daycare, so the Business Professionals of America Team set up childcare thinking this would be their fundraising gig from then on, however, no one showed up
- The school day was 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM and one Friday a month
- Academic results mirrored the same results as the 5 day week
- Student attendance was better for most students with a 4 day week
- Students seemed more motivated to come to school, especially MS & HS
- Top positives - As a working mom with 4 kids the Friday off was a bonus day to get "everything done" and still feel like she had a weekend.
- Top Negative - didn't experience a negative as a teacher and neither did any of her 3 children in school
19 Cayuse staff & 1 trustee met with staff from Fair-Mont-Egan and Olney-Bissel on Feb. 20 from 4-5 PM. Here's what we learned:
- OB has done a 4 day week since 2018
- The community was the push for this change
- School hours are 7:50 AM - 3:45 PM with 150 days of school for students
- Never offered childcare
- Top positives - continued academic progress and decrease in staff absences (only 1or 2 substitutes/month)
- Top negative - some families still struggle with attendance (same as a 5 day week)
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- FME changed to a 4 day week this year with the hope of increasing their enrollment.
- School hours are 7:45 AM - 3:45 PM with 150 days of school for students
- They intended to offer childcare, but only had one student show so they cancelled it
- They don't schedule Friday sports events unless it's a tournament
- They recently polled families to see if they'd like to change anything in their schedule or calendar & 98% like things as they are and don't want to change anything
- Top positives - school day schedule and having Fridays off
- Top negative - chronic attendance issues for some students (same as a 5 day week)
LINKS TO ARTICLES BELOW:
Next edition will take a closer look at a possible 4 day schedule and calendar
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Amy Piazzola
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