What Louisiana's Four-Day School Week Debate Means For Students

Would you be in favor of a four-day school week in Louisiana? Several parishes have already adopted that policy, but lawmakers are considering a measure to keep any more school systems from moving to this new schedule.

What Senator Says About a 4-Day School Week

Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell wants to prevent any more school districts from adopting a four-day school week. Her bill has passed in the Senate on a 35-1 vote. The bill is now on the way to the House. Mizell says she filed a bill last year mandating a five-day school week; at that time, there were six districts with four-day weeks. But she says 17 school districts in the state have now moved to four-day school weeks.

Mizell says four-day school weeks create logistical problems, including in her own district. She says one school district in her area has 90% child poverty and those children are at home on Friday with nothing to eat.

Mizell says she’s also concerned about the effects a four-day school week will have on academic achievement, especially with the state showing tremendous improvement in recent years. She says now is not the time to take our foot "off the pedal". She says children don't learn as well at 4 in the afternoon as they do in the first half of the day. The four-day school week means children are often still at school at 4 and 5pm in the afternoon to make up for the class time.

But Mizell does allow for some exceptions. Districts that have a score of “A” from the Department of Education will be able to make this change.

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Why Do School Systems Go to a Four-Day Week?

One of the primary drivers of this change is teacher recruitment and retention. Districts with a four-day week report lower turnover rates and higher attendance by students.

Here's the latest list we could find of school districts in Louisiana with a four-day week

Acadia Parish
Avoyelles Parish
Beauregard Parish
Bogalusa City Schools
Caldwell Parish
Cameron Parish
Catahoula
Concordia
Evangeline Parish
Franklin Parish
Grant Parish
LaSalle Parish
Vernon Parish
Winn

Only one school in Caddo Parish operates on a four-day week. North Caddo has classes on Tuesday-Friday. No schools in Bossier Parish offer a four-day week.