School days (and weeks) shrink

Axios - School districts are experimenting with shorter weeks and later start times. The pandemic exposed a mental health crisis among kids and teens. More districts are trying to alleviate burnout by changing the traditional schedule. Districts that are starting classes later in the morning say the change gives kids and teens more time to sleep and boosts their well-being, AP reports.

Weeks are shrinking, too: Nationally, 850 school districts — representing thousands of individual schools — have dropped the fifth day of instruction, up from 650 districts in 2019, Axios' Jennifer A. Kingson writes. Supporters of the four-day school week say it gives students and teachers more time with family — and can even reduce rates of bullying.

Shorter days and weeks are solving another mounting problem — teacher shortages. Around 10% of teaching positions were unfilled in the majority of school districts at the start of this school year.