In the 2021-2022 school year 116 schools in Colorado had shifted to a 4-day school week, and that number has been on the rise ever since. Schools across the country, mainly in the Midwest, have been rapidly adopting this Monday through Thursday schedule, and it’s time for Aspen School District to make the shift.
Some working parents are concerned about finding childcare for their children on the extra off, an issue that applies to only elementary children as older kids are capable of taking care of themselves. Schools, such as the Clear Creek School District, have combated these concerns by offering free or discounted childcare at the school. While that may seem costly, the cost would actually be counteracted due to the saved cost on transportation and other maintenance costs when the schools would be closed for an extra day.
AHS students and teachers alike have experienced firsthand the substitute and teacher shortage that the nation is currently facing. Finding a sub last minute can be very difficult and sometimes impossible, causing other teachers to have to switch back and forth between two classes. A shortened school week is a big draw for teachers and substitutes trying to find schools. They have more time to curate lessons, grade assignments and attend meetings regarding students and the school.
Dale Herl, superintendent of the Independence, Missouri school district, in an interview with CBS in December of 2023, claims,
“The number of teacher applications that we’ve received have gone up more than 4-fold,” since the school switched to a 4-day schedule.
These benefits would also increase the morale of existing teachers as the extra time takes a lot of stress off their shoulders.
The learning time requirement in Colorado is 1080 hours throughout the entire year. AHS currently has 175 days in its school year. Hypothetically on a 4-day schedule, AHS would have 140 days, to keep up with the required hours of learning time per year AHS would need to add about 90 minutes to each school day. AHS has actually had 90-minute classes before and students didn’t even get an extra day off, so if we could do it then we can do it now.
Furthermore, the mental benefits for students on a Monday-Thursday schedule are undeniable. A Rand Corp. study on student achievement on a 4-day schedule found that students’ attendance rates went up, as did their behavioral and emotional well-being, and the overall school climate. This would make school a more positive environment for students and teachers. Furthermore, the extra day off gives students more time to rest or participate in extracurricular activities where they can explore their passions. This allows students to start exploring the kind of lifestyles and careers they might want to pursue in the future.
The benefits of switching to a 4-day school week are apparent. When a schedule change would save money, increase staff, and have significant impacts on student and teacher morale, who would say no? It’s time the Aspen School District makes the change for the better of its students and staff.