Four-day school week?

WEST PALM BEACH, FL--Since the economy started to go downhill,  many methods have been applied to prevent layoffs, and close budget holes.

Increasing budget cuts are forcing many schools to adopt the four-day school week.  But how does that affect students and parents?

According to the Wall Street Journal, the missed hours would be compensated by lengthening the school days.

Working parents face a dilemma, since most have a five-day week work schedule, and not having their kids at school means paying for a Daycare. So, while schools are saving money, parents are being forced to spend more.

The idea is not new, as until recently most rural, small districts had the  short school week.

Critics say that the implementation of a short school week will have a negative impact on student's education, but evidence is not 'inconclusive.'

According to The Principal's Partnership Research, the short school week also brings benefits for students and teachers. Improvement on student and teacher attendance and the extra time for participation in extra curricular activities are some of the benefits.

Besides that, the school has a significant savings on utility bills, substitute teacher pay, school buses and building wear and tear,  to name a few.

The research also points out the cons of a short school week, as child care issues, and the uncertainty of how students will handle a long school day.

Whether the implementation will affect students in a negative or positive way is not yet known, but parents, students and teachers should be informed and prepared in case their week gets shorter.