Introduction

With strapped state budgets and alluring promises of significant reductions in overhead and transportation costs, the four-day school week has been an increasingly attractive option for legislators seeking to cut education costs. According to the National School Boards Association (NSBA), a handful of states, with mostly rural school districts, are experimenting with altering their school calendar. For small, remote school districts, instituting a four-day school week may provide considerable savings by reducing transportation, heating, and other overhead costs. Supporters of the shortened week also boast of improved morale and increased attendance (by both students and teachers), open Fridays for sporting events and doctor appointments, and more time to spend with loved ones.  Opponents of the four-day school week cite problems with long, exhausting class days and finding day care for children whose parents work outside the home. Additionally, educational experts worry that increased time outside of the classroom could lead to a digression in learned concepts while also making it more difficult to offer elective classes.


Task

You will use a graphic organizer to sort the ideas you get from your research and develop them into a clear opinion about whether or not Alpine School District should participate in a 4 day school week. You will use your persuasive writing skills to convince the school board to either participate in a 4 day school week or not!


Assignments
Working With Your PartnerDuring your first meeting, you must both:
1. Read aboutThe Four Day School Week. 
2. Preview the selections on the Resources page and choose two for each of you to read. You must each choose at least five selections from the resource list. Be sure to choose selections that seem to be on your reading level.
Reading Your Selections
1. Get a copy of the graphic organizer from Mr. Green. 
2. As you read the selections complete the organizer so that you have a full understanding of the gist of the articles.
Choosing Your Position 

1. Share your completed graphic organizers with your partner.
2. Use the information you learned to decide your point of view. Do you support the school’s participation in a Four Day School Week or are you against it?
3. Start using the articles you read to find proof that supports your position. You may even want to look at other resources you haven’t yet read.
Completing Your Graphic Organizer and starting the writing process
1. After you've chosen whether you are for or against the four day school week, open a blank page in Microsoft Word and type a brainstormed list of arguments that support your position. 
2. Choose the three best arguments. These should be easy to support with details from the readings or from relevant personal experience.
3. You are now ready tobegin writing your persuasive essay on why we should adopt a four day school week or why we should not adopt a four day school week.
Creating Your Persuasive Essay
1. Use the evaluation rubric to help you create a persuasive essay to present to the School Board.  Also remember that your essay needs to include 5 paragraphs!