Acting boldly for the students

By The Gazette Editorial Board

-----

At least 21 states have some public school districts operating on a four-day week. Most of these 120-plus districts are small and rural, and switched to a shorter week to save money on transportation, food service, heating and staff to help cope with budget shortfalls, the National Conference of State Legislatures notes.

The WACO school district that serves about 500 students in Henry County has become the first Iowa school to be granted the four-day option. But school leaders say saving money isn't the big reason to change.

Most important, Tom Ferguson, chair of the school's calendar committee, told The Gazette and KCRG-TV9, is improving students' educational experiences and opportunities.

Previous proposals from other Iowa districts have been rejected by state officials because they didn't adequately emphasize positive influence on student learning. We agree that finding ways to save taxpayer money is certainly desirable, but not if students' education experience is seriously compromised.

WACO's proposed tack is the better one.

From Monday through Thursday, students would attend classes for an extra hour. Friday is optional, but there will be half-day offerings, including enriched learning programs for elementary students and career internships and community service activities for high school students.

Nationally, there's not much collective research summarizing whether a four-day week leads to better student performance. Some individual districts have credited the switch to academic progress.

WACO's plan, if it gains final school board approval in December, will be watched closely. Could a four-day week play a role in Iowa's current education reform efforts? Who knows.

But WACO is, at the least, acting boldly on behalf of its students.

n Comments: editorial@sourcemedia.net or (319) 398-8262