Planet Money – Cutting school… by 20%

Intro

In this episode of the “Planet Money” podcast, titled “Cutting school… by 20%”, the hosts explore the growing trend of four-day school weeks in the United States. They dive into the reasons why school districts are adopting this schedule, the impact on teachers, parents, and students, and the potential consequences for education and society as a whole.

Main Takeaways

Teacher Retention and Pay

• Warren County R3 School District lost 20% of its teachers every year due to low pay.
• The district tried to raise taxes to increase teacher pay, but voters rejected it.

Switching to a Four-Day Week

• The district decided to cut out one day of school every week to retain teachers.
• Teachers get three-day weekends and keep their same salary.
• 30% of Missouri school districts and a significant number of districts in other states have adopted the four-day school week.
• Friday is typically the day that is cut from the week.

Impacts on Parents and Students

• Students often attend daycare or community programs on Fridays, which can be expensive for families.
• Parents are impacted by the four-day school week as it leads to increased childcare costs.
• Kids are eating less breakfast and drinking more sugary beverages on their day off.
• When students get fewer hours of math and English instruction, they often do worse in those subjects.

Benefits and Drawbacks

• The four-day school week has been implemented in waves since the 70s and 80s, with small rural districts leading the way to deal with attendance problems and other issues.
• The motivation for the third wave of the four-day school week is to attract and retain teachers due to a national teacher shortage, not to save money.
• Teacher contracts didn’t change at all, so districts still had to pay teachers their full five-day school week salary, even though they were only teaching four days now.
• School districts saved about 1 to 2% of their expenditures by switching to four days, which is pretty minuscule in the grand scheme of things.
• Teachers, parents, and students like the 4-day school week, but it might not be good for students.

Summary

Teacher Retention and Pay

Many school districts, like the Warren County R3 School District, struggle with retaining teachers due to low pay. When the district attempted to raise taxes to increase teacher salaries, voters rejected the proposal. As a result, the district decided to implement a four-day school week as a solution to retain teachers.

Switching to a Four-Day Week

The four-day school week has become increasingly popular, with 30% of Missouri school districts and numerous districts in other states adopting this schedule. By eliminating one day of school, typically Friday, teachers are given three-day weekends while maintaining their same salary. This change aims to attract and retain teachers, especially in the face of a national teacher shortage.

Impacts on Parents and Students

While the four-day school week benefits teachers and provides them with more leisure time, it can impose financial burdens on parents. Many students rely on daycare or community programs on their day off, leading to increased childcare costs. Additionally, students may experience negative effects on their nutrition and academic performance due to reduced instructional hours in subjects like math and English.

Benefits and Drawbacks

The four-day school week has its advantages, such as improved teacher retention and job satisfaction. However, it does not necessarily result in significant cost savings for school districts. The savings amount to only about 1 to 2% of expenditures. While teachers, parents, and students generally appreciate the shorter school week, there are concerns about its impact on student achievement, including potential decreases in test scores and an increase in juvenile crime rates.

Conclusion

The four-day school week is a growing trend in the United States, driven by the need to attract and retain teachers. While it offers benefits for teachers and some families, there are potential drawbacks for students, including negative impacts on their education and well-being. As schools consider implementing this schedule, it is crucial to carefully weigh the trade-offs and ensure that students’ academic needs are adequately met.