The General Assembly granted all school leaders in Pennsylvania a gift in January. I think we have to be real about this. It occurred when the School Code was changed to move away from 180 days AND 900/990 hours of instruction to 180 days OR 900/990 instructional hours.
I can’t think of a piece of legislation that did so much by changing one word.
Now, it is incumbent on school leaders (me and you) to take advantage of this change to make schools better for Pennsylvania kids.
We must be bold in our actions to actually change the systems and structures of schooling.
Step one in the process is for you to take the time and think about what you believe to be great about the current system and take stock of what you think should change to make it better for kids. Write these down. Define them. Get to know what can be improved about your ideas according to your experience in your community and school.
Step two is to discuss your proposed changes with your mentors, colleagues, friends, neighbors, and boss. Keep track of what you learn from these discussions and what needs to be changed. Document your thoughts and ideas, for they will form the foundation of the meaningful change we can collectively bring about.
Now, this takes time, discipline, and a certain amount of courage. But it must be done if we are to drive the narrative of change in Pennsylvania.
I have been thinking deeply about how school leaders in Pennsylvania can take advantage of the changes in the School Code, and here is what I have come up with.
My Ideas For Change
I have done the two steps described above. Right now, I believe there are three things school leaders in Pennsylvania must learn more about, be more comfortable talking about, and wrap our heads around to take full advantage of the changes.
I am not claiming these three are the only answer…I am saying they are a potential piece of the puzzle.
If you don’t like my three ideas…that is freakin’ awesome! Develop your own ideas! (and I want to hear your ideas…they will help iterate my ideas).
So, here are my three things I think will help Pennsylvania school leaders take advantage of the new flexibility in school code.
- Adopting a 4-Day School Week: This approach, widely implemented west of the Mississippi River, promises numerous benefits without compromising academic achievement or community support.
- Year-Round Schooling: A reimagined calendar spreads instructional days across a 12-month calendar to prevent summer learning loss and better utilize school resources throughout the year.
- Competency-Based Education: Focusing on mastery of subject matter rather than seat time, preparing students for success beyond the classroom….learning is the constant, time is the variable.
Again, these are not the right answers to the question of how to take advantage of the new flexibility, they are my answers.
4-day school week.
We held an Innovation Summit last week that discussed these three items. Here is what I learned about the 4-day school week. We had Dr. Jon Turner from Missouri State University (a former superintendent who has studied 4-day school weeks for the last ten years) speak to the group.
1. This model is prevalent west of the Mississippi River.
2. There is no research evidence that suggests a 4-day school week has either a negative or positive impact on achievement.
3. There is no research evidence that juvenile crime increases on the “5th day.”
4. Research indicates that implementation of a 4-day school week does not negatively impact the community’s feelings about the school.
5. Parents are generally supportive of a 4-day school week.
6. Generally, elementary parents are just as supportive as secondary parents of a 4-day school week.
In essence, the 4-day school week offers a framework for transformative change, enabling us to rethink and optimize how we deliver education. It represents a strategic opportunity to enrich the learning experience, strengthen our educational communities, and, most importantly, improve learning experiences for our kids.
So, how do you feel about a 4-day school week so far? Is it challenging for you to consider? I hope so.
Here are some more things to consider.
1. Effective implementation of a 4-day school week protects instructional time. Increasing the school day is one way this occurred. Another strategy is to really take stock of the amount of time that your school actually instructs in the current system.
2. Your 4-day school week model can include a “Power Friday” concept where certain groups of students attend face-to-face. These students may need extra help in certain classes. You can decide what your “Power Fridays” look like.
3. How can you incorporate athletics, intramurals, and clubs into your “Power Fridays?”
4. Schools have found that a 4-day school week helps significantly in their recruitment and retention of staff members.
5. Many schools have used the 5th day to create their own teacher pipeline projects. Apprenticeship programs and other forms of professional development to help get people in the teacher pipelines has been very effective in the 4-day school model.
6. Research in Missouri shows that most teachers are working at least 2 of the potential 4 days a month they would “get off.” In other words, your model can include teachers working on “Power Fridays” by either being with students or receiving meaningful professional development.
From my perspective, the bottom line is that a four-day school week is a strategy that Pennsylvania school leaders can effectively leverage to create system-wide change in their schools for the betterment of kids.
While these ideas stem from my reflections and the insights of experts like Dr. Jon Turner, who has extensively studied the 4-day school week, they are merely starting points. If these concepts don’t resonate with you, that’s fantastic! Challenge them, propose alternatives, and engage in this critical conversation. Your insights are invaluable in refining and expanding upon these ideas and shaping your own ideas!
Moving Forward
As we move forward, I invite you to join me in a collaborative effort to explore these ideas further. Let’s form a coalition of visionary school leaders across Pennsylvania to dive deeply into the 4-day school week and other innovative strategies. If you’re interested in shaping the future of education in our state, reach out to me and join the conversation.