Would a 4-Day School Week Work in Maine?

A new report from the Education Finance and Policy journal says that when schools run a four-day school week student test scores increase. Would a four-day work week fly in Maine?

The study showed that students in 4th and 5th grades had increased math scores after two years of the four-day schedule. A four-day schedule also helped cut some school's overhead and saved on transportation expenses.

A four-day school week sounds great to me, as a former student who counted the minutes 'til the last Friday bell. The catch? Schools would still have to meet a minimum instructional hour requirement so those four days would be longer. Researchers thought longer days would have a negative impact on younger students who tend to have shorter attention spans, but this wasn't the case in the study so far.

The study was conducted in small rural school districts, so the results aren't scientifically proven across all areas. Maine has plenty of small rural school districts, but would a four-day school week work in our area?

A four-day school week in Maine could mean:

• Less snow days and a shorter overall school year, because if school is cancelled one day, the schedule can flex to move the missed day to the "extra" fifth day of the week.
• An open day for extracurriculars like music and athletics.
• Cost savings for the increasingly tight budgets of local school districts.
• A challenge for parents of younger students who work five days a week, requiring extra childcare for the fifth day.
• Tired students after longer hours of study.
• Logistical issues when working with other schools that are on a five-day schedule, such as during sports seasons.

Tell us what you think: Would you support a four-day school week in your district?