The financial situation in education is dire, and kids are the ones suffering the consequences. While some students might revel in the idea of a three-day weekend every week, in Oklahoma, where many schools have shifted to a four-day week, it’s a troubling indicator of how mismanaged funding and priorities can lead to significant consequences for our youth. Unfortunately, it’s the children who bear the brunt of this adult-created crisis.
The four-day school week concept emerged in Oklahoma in 2009, introduced by legislation aimed at reducing school cancellations due to inclement weather. Previously, students were required to attend school for six hours a day over 180 days. The new law permitted schools to either maintain the 180-day schedule or meet a total of 1,080 instructional hours per year, allowing them to extend each school day by about 45 minutes while condensing the week to four days.
Years of tax reductions and dwindling sales tax revenue have left Oklahoma schools grappling with a significant budget issue. Many have already eliminated extracurricular programs like music and art, and some schools are now charging students to participate in sports. Teachers have faced stagnant salaries since 2008, with Oklahoma ranking 49th in the nation for teacher pay as of 2013. To attract and keep teachers, many are turning to the four-day week model, which also helps save on operational costs like utilities and transportation.
As of now, 96 out of 513 school districts in Oklahoma have adopted a four-day school week, often closing on Fridays or Mondays. This marks a fourfold increase since 2013 and nearly triples the number from 2015. Tim Landry, an education expert, studied the impacts of this schedule and found that while students often perform well in the initial year, over time, academic outcomes tend to decline as teachers struggle to maintain momentum in their lesson plans.
The shift to a shorter school week poses significant challenges for working parents who rely on a traditional schedule to balance their jobs. Additionally, students who depend on subsidized meals may experience increased food insecurity due to one less day of access to school-provided meals. For instance, Superintendent Ellen Myers of a local district has urged the board to revert to a five-day schedule, expressing concern for the nearly 90 percent of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Given the current administration’s education budget proposals, it seems unlikely that conditions will improve for students in Oklahoma or elsewhere anytime soon. Children are often touted as the future, yet if we fail to provide them with the education they deserve, we are jeopardizing what lies ahead.
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In summary, the trend of four-day school weeks in Oklahoma highlights the severe budget constraints faced by schools, ultimately impacting students’ education and wellbeing. As financial priorities continue to shift, it becomes imperative for communities to advocate for better educational funding to secure the future of our children.