This Indiana School Has a 4-Day Week; Will Others Follow?

I swear, my friends and I talk about this all the time regarding the work week. With how busy Monday-Friday usually is, a two-day weekend is just never long enough. You not only have to catch up on errands and chores you couldn't do while working an 8-5, but you also have kids' activities, sports, birthday parties, and then need to find some time to relax? Good luck!

For the past two years, Vinton Elementary School in Lafayette, Indiana, has been part of a 3-year pilot program operating only four days a week. According to Channel 13 WTHR out of Indianapolis, there has definitely been positive feedback about this change from staff, students, and parents.

Principal Cindy Preston shared that reading scores and attendance numbers (both staff and students) have gone up, while discipline problems have gone down. She's also noticed improvement when it comes to mental health. Teachers and students are refreshed and ready to go when they arrive on Monday for classes.

The school week at Vinton Elementary is Monday-Thursday from 8 AM to 3:45 PM. Whenever a holiday falls on a Monday, students go to school on the Friday that they would otherwise not attend. With an enrollment of over 400, they meet the mandatory 54,000 minutes of yearly instruction in only 151 days, versus the standard 180.

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Because it has been so beneficial, they are hoping to continue with four days a week once the pilot program ends. That will all depend on whether they meet the necessary criteria outlined in a new Indiana law. House Enrolled Act 1266 went into effect on the 1st of July.

K-12 schools can apply for a waiver through the Indiana Department of Education if they meet these guidelines:

• The school must score an A on the state A-F accountability model.
• The school must still offer transportation for students who would rather go to a school with a five-day week.
• The school must meet the $45,000-a-year minimum teacher salary threshold established by the state.
• The school must provide a no-cost option for "enrichment and remediation" for the fifth day for any students who need a place to go.

That last guideline was actually my only concern whenever I first started looking into this. This only works well if parents aren't left scrambling for childcare on the Friday school is not in session.

I guess only time will tell whether other schools will follow suit. Of course, it will depend on those four factors to qualify, but I would say the "test subject" in Lafayette has shown some serious promise! The noticeable improvements shared alone have me hoping Kentucky won't be too far behind.

Then, maybe our employers will be inspired to do the same! OK, so THAT is wishful thinking on steroids, but a girl can dream! This may be a stupid question, but what about you? How would you like a four-day week?