I am a part of the Archbishop Mitty High School community where chronic absenteeism is an alarming issue. In my daily experiences, I have witnessed fellow students missing out on essential educational growth while struggling to keep up with the demanding five-days-a-week schedule. I believe transitioning to a 4-day school week would address this problem.

Implemented by over 2100 school districts in 25 states throughout the US, the 4-day school week strategy has seen success, particularly in boosting attendance rates. Along with reducing student fatigue and stress, receiving education for four days leaves the fifth day for any necessary educational catch-up or related activities as well as emphasis on extracurricular activities. It is an innovative adjustment that has the potential to improve student performance significantly.

The benefits are not just for students; the 4-day school schedule has been proven to host massive savings for schools, with Duval County in Florida citing $7 million dollars in savings. Along with monetary benefits, teacher retention is another benefit of this shortened schedule; in school districts across the country, teachers were more inclined to join schools based on their schedule. 

As Superintendent Eugene Blalock poignantly states, “Doctors won’t be asked to perform surgeries and lawyers wouldn’t be asked to argue court cases without adequate time to prepare. Educators should be no different.” This shortened schedule generously offers time for educators to structure lesson plans, work on household chores, and bond with family. 

So, I urge you all to sign this petition. Think about the benefits it has for schools and students. It is clear, because there is no political will to spark change, actions must start from us.