More Texas School Districts Are Going To 4-Day School Weeks

A lot more Texas school districts are going to 4-day school weeks, some made the switch this year and some will convert next school year. Does this mean that Midland/Odessa schools will be converting soon?

This past Friday (January 20) another school district in Texas committed to going to a 4-day school week for the 2023-24 school year.

Anna Independent School District made the move after a survey of residents and faculty back in November yielded results where 72% of parents and 87% of staff were in favor of the 4-day school week.

So does this mean that Midland ISD and Ector County ISD will be next? Nothing has come from either district about the possibility of a 4-day school week so far.

So what are the pros and cons of going to a 4-day week in school?

PROS:

Adds Flexibility to Teacher's Schedules - Teachers say the 4-day plan helps them get more done since they have an extra day to focus on planning and tying up loose ends.
Student Attendance Increases - Rural school districts report that attendance has increased since many students are living on farms and it gives the family an extra day to get what they need to be done.
School Districts Save Money - School districts that are doing the 4-day week usually add 40 minutes to each day to make up for the 5th day, this has saved some school districts millions of dollars in utilities, busing, and labor.
Easier to Hire Employees and Teachers - The 4-day week adds flexibility to the teachers' schedules and makes their jobs more manageable, so school districts have no problem hiring teachers and other staff members.

CONS:

Potential Decline in Academic Performance of Vulnerable Groups - Studies have shown that low-income, minority, or special needs groups have shown a decline academically when their districts have gone to 4-day weeks.
Juvenile Crime Can Increase - The state of Colorado saw increases in juvenile crime when districts went from 5 days to 4 days but the crimes occurred all during the week and not just on the weekdays when students were out of school.
The 4-day Week is Misleading - Many will think having the 5th day off will save money but in reality the fifth day the school will still be open with administrative staff still working, sports teams may hold practice, and other meetings will be happening.

So we have no information about Midland ISD or Ector County ISD planning a 4-day week after this school year or not, but they are probably already looking into it and will decide sometime in the future.