Georgia Counties Considering Four-Day School Week to Fill Budget Shortfall

It is amazing that the first thing on the chopping block in many state governments is education. According to WSB-TV, due to looming budget cuts, more Georgia school systems are considering reducing the school week. Great. Georgia already ranks close to bottom of the list, in terms of test scores and graduation rates, among all the states. It is amazing that politicians hold the key to the quality of our children's education in the public school system. The government continues to fail our kids and that is a dangerous trend. "No Child Left Behind" really did leave children behind. It wasn't the success the Bush Administration had hoped.

One county already took that step. Peach County decided to hold classes Tuesdays through Fridays last fall. It was their answer to filling a nearly $800,000 budget shortfall. County officials have estimated they saved $313,000 in transportation and utilities costs by making the schedule change, according to WSB-TV. Teachers in Peach County work on Mondays, but they hold no classes. The move came after Gov. Sonny Perdue announced last year that the state's teachers should take three unpaid furlough days and public school systems must slash three percent from their budgets.

According to a press release issued by the school board, school hours were changed to 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. for elementary students and 8:30 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. for middle and high school students from Tuesday through Friday of each week. In addition, all school staff members will have to take a three day furlough. Peach County schools consistently rank lower than the state average in test scores, so one has to wonder if a four-day school week, with hours not increased by much, will be in the best interest of the students.

It is amazing that President Obama is touting the benefits of a longer school year and county officials, in Georgia at least, want to cut the school week. The Obama Administration's vision for our students is stated quite clearly on Whitehouse.gov. President Obama says he is committed to ensuring that America will regain its lost ground and have the highest proportion of students graduating from college in the world by 2020. How can we get to that position if counties are cutting education budgets year after year? He also believes that investment in education must be accompanied by reform and innovation. Then it's clear that there is a terrible disconnect between his vision and reality. Really? Well, the governors and school boards of many states and counties are singing a different tune. Go figure.