Should more schools adopt a four-day week?

Dozens of U.S. school districts are reducing the school week by one day to save money, and a Georgia county says some kids actually learn better that way

Should schools move to a 4-day week?
(Image credit: Corbis)

Schools across the country are cutting costs by having kids attend classes just four days a week. More than 120 districts have tried it so far. Some, including Peach County, Georgia, reported benefits beyond what they expected, as test scores, attendance, and graduation rates all improved. But some parents and students complained that, as teachers began teaching faster, many children were being left behind. Should U.S. schools be experimenting with the four-day week? (Watch a local report about four-day school weeks)

Kids might do better with more time off: Sometimes "less is more" — so kids might do fine with a little less school, says Rob Port at Say Anything Blog. "School is important, but kids should also have time to be kids." But this is a case where school choice would also help — if you don't like it when your child's school goes to a four-day week, you should be able to switch to a school where kids attend classes all five weekdays.

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