Four-day school week passes in Florida county
Marion County Superintendent Jim Yancy said the switch to four-day school weeks would save $4.5 million.
June 30th, 2011
07:21 PM ET

Four-day school week passes in Florida county

While students in many parts of the world attend school for up to six days a week, students in Marion County, Florida, will receive three-day weekends - every week - starting in the fall of 2012, making it the first county in Florida to make the change.

The Marion County School Board in Florida voted this week in a 4-1 decision to approve a four-day school week for the county’s schools, according to Kevin Christian, the school district’s public relations officer.

The action comes after a massive $24 million cut to next year’s operating budget. Making the switch will save the district around $4.5 million, Marion County School Superintendent Jim Yancey said, according to Orlando television station 13 News.

Students will attend school either Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday, with an additional 75 minutes tacked on each day in the 2012-2013 school year, 13 News says. One day less a week will save on water and energy, along with transportation costs.

A downside, of course, is long, draining class days, with three-day weekends possibly providing too much time between lessons, causing regression in learning.

The Education Commission of the States says the most a school will save is 2.5% of overall budget savings by transitioning to four days a week.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 21 states already have school districts with public schools offering four-day school weeks.

While Board members originally considered implementing the shorter week for the 2011-2012 school year, the district was able to save in other places instead, but expects another $8 million in budget cuts for the 2012-2013 budget.

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Filed under: Budget • Economy • Education • Florida
soundoff (90 Responses)
  1. gaa

    i totaly agree with you dsgda

    January 12, 2012 at 7:55 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Brenth

    Hmm, as an aside, and not a comment on the US picoly or what you've written here, we had quasi-relatives who emigrated to the US a few years ago. Their son (a year ahead of our daughter) was struggling with school here, really hating it, always in trouble, the usual kind of stuff. Went to the US and loved their school system, started getting great grades etc. My immediate thought was that I bet the standard was lower, but his parents insisted it wasn't. Anyway, they moved back here about six months ago, and the kids struggling again, hating it, in trouble all the time. Dunno exactly what the difference is, but something was working for him over there.

    March 13, 2012 at 12:52 am | Report abuse |
  3. stephanie Pisano

    Florida parents now know who to vote OFF THE BOARD !

    April 6, 2012 at 4:01 pm | Report abuse |
    • fun value

      Seems most parents leave everything up to the schools. The administrators want it that way. Instead of a math teacher focusing on mathematics, everyone is expected to be a manager. Administrators think management is the most important thing and want to manage everyone's lives.

      December 10, 2012 at 7:04 pm | Report abuse |
  4. fun value

    I have worked in four day school weeks. The students like them and everyone has a week day to get things like doctor appts. done. Activities such as sports can be done without so much interference with the regular 4 day schedule. Saturday seems like a real day off. Science teachers like the longer periods for labs. Students have fewer days to ditch. When I have been sick on Monday, I realize I can make it until Thursday and then stay in bed for 3 days straight.

    December 10, 2012 at 6:59 pm | Report abuse |
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