EdVANTAGE Blog

Last year, State Senator Stephen Saland convened a hearing to discuss possible changes in school calendars as a way to reduce costs, with a focus on a four-day school week.

Now a parochial school in Niagara Falls will launch an experiment with a four-day week.  Niagara Catholic High School will be closed on Mondays.  The remaining school days will be extended by more than an hour.  It seems to be the first school in the state to try a compressed calendar.

In testifying at Senator Saland’s hearing, we were mostly skeptical toward shortening the school week, reflecting the reactions of our members.

Niagara Catholic says that students will receive the equivalent of two additional days of instruction over the year.  The school estimates that it will save $10,000 in operating costs while faculty and staff will continue at the same pay and benefit levels as before.  However, it also seems that part of the reason for the change is to offer something different that will attract students.

The Buffalo News reports that the school will partner with Niagara University to offer a “fifth day” program allowing students to take college readiness courses.

As a nonpublic school, Niagara Catholic is not required to offer 180 days of instruction.  A school district could not adopt the compressed calendar without a change in state law.