Over the past few years, Texas school districts have seen an increase in demand for new approaches to learning. In 2023, Life School was one of a few districts to have made the switch to a 4-day school week. Among the motivators was a goal to attract experienced teachers during an ongoing Texas teacher shortage. Teachers are known to be one of the biggest contributors to overall student success in the classroom. While 4-day did make an impact on average years of experience among teachers, it also made a big impact elsewhere. Parents repeatedly emphasize its effect on childrens’ mental health and overall well-being.
Many Life School students and parents report reduced feelings of stress and burnout. A shorter school week means fewer days of intense academics, allowing everyone to recharge over the long weekend.
“It helps keep my stress level down because school and classes are very stressful and can take a negative toll on mental health,” one student shared.
“My child doesn’t feel burned out, and [is] excited to go back after the weekend,” a parent notes of their student.
As a result of the additional time, students and staff can return to school feeling refreshed and better equipped to take on challenges. Fewer days in class also leads to better concentration and productivity. Students have room to manage their time more efficiently, focusing on academics during the school week and avoiding feeling overloaded by assignments.
“It gives my child the opportunity to catch up on any assignments he may have missed throughout the week,” says another parent.
While a 4-day school week is relatively novel in k-12 education, school districts are adapting an approach that has already demonstrated benefits in other industries. In 2023, the University of Cambridge produced a study from 61 UK companies (representing over 2,900 employees) that implemented a 4-day work week from June to December of 2022. The results on physical health and mental health were clear. More than 40% of employees noticed an improvement in their mental health and reported that feelings of anxiousness and negative thoughts decreased. An overwhelming 71% of employees reported that the extra time to recharge resulted in lower instances of burnout.
As Life School continues to adapt to the needs of families, the 4-day school week offers several compelling benefits for both students and teachers in an age where emotional well-being is increasingly strained.
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Life School is a tuition-free, public charter school with campuses in Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Mountain Creek, Red Oak, Oak Cliff and Waxahachie, TX. Life School develops leaders with life skills through strong academics, character training, and partnerships with parents and the community. Its mission is accomplished in part through the financial support of donors who provide scholarships and embrace making students ready to learn, ready to lead and ready for life.
Parents who are interested in enrollment can visit lifeschool.net/learn-about-life. Partners who would like to support Life School financially can give online at lifeschool.net/give.
FAQs
While 4-day did make an impact on average years of experience among teachers, it also made a big impact elsewhere. Parents repeatedly emphasize its effect on childrens' mental health and overall well-being. Many Life School students and parents report reduced feelings of stress and burnout.
What are the mental benefits of a 4-day school week? ›
An additional day to the weekend would allow students to catch up on much-needed sleep, hopefully improving their ability to focus while in class. Four-day school weeks allow students more time to relax and prepare for the school week – therefore students would likely be more present while in class.
How does school benefit students mental health? ›
Schools can connect students to caring adults and encourage positive peer relationships. Schools can give students mental health support and link them and their families to community behavioral and mental health services.
How would shorter school days benefit students' mental health? ›
Lower Stress Levels: Lengthy school days often contribute to stress and burnout among students due to the continuous pressure of studies. Reducing school hours can help alleviate this stress, leading to a healthier and more balanced lifestyle for students.
How does a 4 day school week help save money? ›
By reducing the number of school days, schools can save money on transportation, food and energy costs. This can be especially important for rural districts where students may need to travel long distances to get to school.
How does a 4 day work week help mental health? ›
Health Benefits of a 4-Day Workweek
Participants' mental health scores increased from an average of 2.95 to 3.32 on a five-point scale, some 54% reported a reduction in negative emotions, and their rates of anxiety also fell from 2.26 to 1.96 out of a maximum of four points.
How effective are 4 day school weeks? ›
In support of the claim, research shows the four-day week significantly reduces high school bullying and fighting incident rates and increases the amount of sleep elementary students get. However, surveys of four-day week and five-day week students and families found no differences in their ratings of school climate.
Why is in person school better for mental health? ›
According to experts, excessive screen time can lead to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. In-person learning allows you to interact and use social cues from your peers to stay focused on the task at hand.
Should schools do more to support mental health? ›
Being able to understand mental health and its struggles is something everyone would benefit from, whether that be adults, teens, or even adolescents. Educating students on topics such as anxiety and depression could not only help thousands of children but also save lives.
What are the benefits of 5 day school week? ›
Five-day schedules not only allow teachers to build the best relationship with the child and their family, but it ensures they can offer the best data on their continuing progress on developmental goals.
Results indicate that four-day school weeks decrease per-pupil bullying incidents by approximately 31% and per-pupil fighting incidents by approximately 27%, but have no detectable effect on other incident types, ACT scores, or attendance.
Are shorter school days better for kids? ›
Shorter school days enforce healthier sleep schedules across many adolescents and boosts their ability to focus and learn in classes. Additionally, it gives students the freedom and opportunity to balance work and after school activities while also maintaining a proper sleep schedule.
Does 4 day school week improve mental health? ›
A shorter school week means fewer days of intense academics, allowing everyone to recharge over the long weekend. “It helps keep my stress level down because school and classes are very stressful and can take a negative toll on mental health,” one student shared.
How does a 4 verses 5 day school week influence education? ›
Researchers found that students who went to school four days a week, as a whole, made smaller gains in reading during the academic year than students who went five days a week. They also earned lower scores in reading on the spring assessment, on average.
What's one downside of a four day school week? ›
The Cons. THE SCHEDULE IS INEQUITABLE. THE COST SAVINGS IS MINIMAL FOR MOST. LONGER DAYS ARE TOUGH ON YOUNGER STUDENTS.
Why mental health days should be allowed in school? ›
They are vital spaces where children can develop emotional resilience and learn coping mechanisms they'll use throughout life. Letting our children know that mental health is something we should all prioritize is one of the best lessons we can teach them.
Why are 5 day school weeks better than 4? ›
Even if they might not be able to fully articulate their emotions, children share our sentiments towards inconsistency. Coming to school five days per week provides the best consistency and routine for children, which we believe is fundamental to strong development at this early, formative age.
Why shouldn't school be 4 days a week? ›
By moving to a four-day school week, a district inadvertently places working parents in a position of doling out more money for childcare—something many cannot afford. In addition, some families experiencing food insecurity rely on public schools for nearly half of their meals.
How beneficial are mental health days? ›
Mental health days are meant to provide a break from the stress and demands of daily life, help prevent burnout and improve overall mental well-being. As we learn more about the effects of mental health on adolescents, days off from school for mental health are becoming more commonplace.
