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Dec. 21, 2023, 12:21 p.m.

School districts turn to 4-day week to cope with staffing and budget shortfalls

SUMMARY

Across the country, more school districts are making the change to a four-day school week. NewsHour Communities Correspondent Gabrielle Hays traveled to one of those districts in Missouri to see how teachers and parents are adjusting.

For a transcript of this story, click here.

News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM UP QUESTIONS

  1. How many districts have made the switch to four-day weeks in Missouri?
  2. Who is Dale Herl, and what is his background including job?
  3. Where does Missouri rank in terms of teacher salary?
  4. Why might students not learn as much during a four day week?
  5. How many full-time teaching positions were unfilled or filled with underqualified employees during the 2022-2023 school year?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

What do you think state governments can do to increase incentives for teachers and school workers?

Media literacy: Why do you think NewsHour chose to focus on one state to tell this story?

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?

FOR MORE:

What students can do: Watch this Student Reporting Labs video about the teacher shortage and answer the following question — How has the pandemic affected the teacher shortage?


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