More Texas School Districts Move to 4-Day School Week

Debate about the 4-day school week continues in some districts of the state.

But one North Texas school board is putting the idea on the table until more guidance comes from the Texas Education Agency.

Mesquite ISD is suspending discussions about moving to a 4-day school week. The county is going to wait and see if the Texas Legislature comes forward on this issue first.

But dozens of other districts are not waiting for the state and have already made plans for change for the next school year.

The 50 counties in the state that are moving to a 4-day week say it’s a way to attract and retain teachers. But some experts say it’s an experiment that could backfire.

“Many rural schools are moving to this model, I think it saves the county money,” said Dr. Chris Sloan, Associate Dean of the College of Education at Tarleton State University. “Less utilities with closed buildings. One day they will stop taking buses.”

But Sloan says the savings can be costly. A four-day school week would mean either a longer school day, a shorter summer, or the potentially dangerous option of teachers spending less time with students.

“In theory, the idea of ​​a three-day weekend sounds like a good idea,” he said. “In practice, either the teacher’s hours are the same, or someone gets hurt.”

AFT Alliance President Rena Honea represents ISD Dallas teachers. She says the state should give the boroughs the freedom to make decisions for themselves, but she says she would have serious reservations about the metropolitan model.

“We are not only looking at lost training minutes. If students don’t go to school on Fridays, that means parents need to have someone to take care of the younger kids,” she said. “Is this an increase in the number of kindergartens? Someone who has to leave to be with them?”

As a former teacher, Honea says the longer school day will be a challenge for younger students.

“I think that would be a crazy attempt,” she said. “It’s a long time for them to be in the know.”

And there are also students with special needs districts to consider.

“Special needs populations need consistency and repetition,” Honea said. “When the routine is broken, it causes problems for them.”

Honea says the real solution to the so-called teacher shortage is to give teachers what they need to be effective.

“Treat them with dignity and respect,” she said. “Don’t overcrowd the classes. Give them the materials and supplies they need to do their job well.”

Dr. Sloan says higher pay will go further than longer weekends.

“Traditionally, teachers are paid much less than other jobs that require bachelor’s degrees and certificates,” he said. “Teachers currently earn 3 of the 10 lowest salaries after completing a bachelor’s degree.”

Sloan says teacher allowances should be combined with allowances for administrators and support staff to prevent glaring inconsistencies.

There is a bill in the Texas House that would provide a $15,000 increase in teachers’ salaries and a 25% increase in support staff, but a vote on it has not yet been scheduled.

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