Sen. Beth Mizell (R) District 12
A south Louisiana lawmaker believes students should attend school five days a week. Nine school systems in Louisiana have some or all their schools with four-day weeks. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell has filed a bill that would mandate a five-day school week because she’s concerned about children at home without adult supervision one day a week
“The kids have no productive way of spending that fifth day. Or in some cases even to have food in the homes.”
Acadia, Cameron, Evangeline, Grant, LaSalle, Avoyelles, Caldwell, Beauregard, Franklin, and Bogalusa operate under four-day school weeks. They attend school longer to make up for the instructional time missed on Fridays.
Supporters of a four-day week say a condensed schedule helps with teacher recruitment, and retention, and doesn’t impede student learning. Mizell questions what happens when more schools attract teachers with a four-day week.
“If the vast majority of school districts go to a four day, they’re going to lose their advantage so I’m just curious at that point are they going to switch back to five day if it’s no longer an advantage for teacher recruitment?”
Mizell says she is listening to opposition to her bill and considering amending the bill. She says one option is to mandate schools provide additional assistance to struggling students on non-class days. The second option…
“If you’re an A or B performing school district, that you could do a four day school week. But if you’re not a high performing school district, you would have to stay with the five day school week. “
The bill is scheduled to be heard in Senate Education.
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