And they aren't alone. Three schools in Louisiana's Beauregard Parish recently pared a day out of their week, too, for the same reason. But now the shortened week is being adopted in a handful of Southern schools as a way to improve academics. By packing five days of schooling into four extended days of classes, these schools are saving money that they're using to add to their offerings. Although many observers remain skeptical, educators in the schools that have gone to the abbreviated week say they are on to something that works.
Most states require school districts to get special approval to go to four days.
But in Arkansas, the legislature this summer handed the decision over to the districts. I meant for it to be a local decision. So far, the tiny Saratoga district in southwest Arkansas is the only district to sign up. So far, the savings have paid for a new preschool program, special tutorials, and subsidized college courses for high school students. District officials hope the new offerings will help raise test scores enough to move the district off the state list of academically distressed systems.