Will More Minnesota Schools Move to 4 Days A Week?

One of the things that has been a focus for some people the last few years is work-life balance. How to be productive and still have time for your family and yourself without burning out. 

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Some companies have taken this to heart, and one of the ways they’ve done that is by scheduling four-day work weeks. Workdays are 10 hours long and employees get three days off. I know a lot of people who do this and seem to really enjoy it. 

In case you missed it, the four-day a week model has been applied to some schools in Minnesota? There are seven school districts in Minnesota that follow the four day a week pattern.  

There are several reasons why advocates for this plan believe it works. First, is the economic side of things. KARE-11 TV reported earlier this year that the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa district has been doing this for over a decade and school officials say they save 5% each year.  

Another perk to having school just four days per week is for the mental health of the students and staff alike. It’s a real selling point when trying to recruit new teachers, and the kids seem to enjoy the extra day off.  

Carlton Public Schools, near Cloquet, went to the four day per week model this year for those very reasons.  

The Minnesota Department of Instruction says that a school year must include 165 days of instruction unless a four-day plan is approved.  

Just like the four-day work week model, the school systems that opt in for four days a week, the school day is longer than the day for students who still go five days.  

It’s a matter of choice and some parents are opposed to the idea, while others say it helps them for one reason or another. 

The goal is to have students who are more productive and retain more information. This also serves to hopefully be more appealing for teachers who, for many, pour their heart and souls into their students.  

As we approach 2025, the school districts who made the switch this year will begin to get a clearer picture of what the move means for them. And if I had to venture a guess, there are at least a few Minnesota school systems that are curious about their thoughts on their transition.