THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WHITE, D. COSTA, MANN, M. O'BRIEN, CUTLER AND HENNESSEY, APRIL 11, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 11, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to

investigate the potential cost savings and other benefits, as

well as challenges, to school districts of implementing a

four-day school week schedule.

WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes that volatile fuel

and energy costs have the potential to devastate public school

district budgets; and

WHEREAS, The traditional five-day school week schedule for

students may not be the most efficient and effective plan for

optimizing the use of limited school district resources and

saving taxpayer dollars or for providing the highest quality

education for students; and

WHEREAS, Due to higher energy and other costs, school

districts in this Commonwealth and across the nation are

increasingly considering the option of a four-day school week

schedule primarily as an innovative potential cost-saving

initiative; and

WHEREAS, When four-day school weeks for public school

districts have been successfully utilized, savings have resulted

in the costs for heating, electricity and fuel, which can save

taxpayers thousands of dollars; and

WHEREAS, It is in the best interests of this Commonwealth's

school districts for the General Assembly to study the four-day

school week option in order to better understand its potential

to produce cost savings, as well as to identify any other

benefits and challenges that such option may provide for

students, teachers, parents, administrators, staff and the local

community; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's school board members, administrators,

teachers and State education leaders are committed to improving

educational outcomes for this Commonwealth's students and are

continually seeking innovative ways to provide students with the

best possible structure and environment that is most conducive

for learning so that students can compete in the 21st century

global economy; and

WHEREAS, Further investigation of the four-day school week

option by the General Assembly will serve to identify various

possible advantages and disadvantages that may exist, which

could serve as additional incentive for school districts to

implement this option; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the

Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the history of

four-day school week schedules that are currently in operation

or have been attempted by school districts in other states and

in this Commonwealth; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

investigate the potential cost savings for school districts of

implementing a four-day school week schedule, including, but not

limited to, areas of specific savings relating to public

utilities, transportation, food service, teacher and staff

salaries, labor contracts, retirement and pension plans and

relevant legal considerations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

identify any educational or other benefits or disadvantages that

have been discovered as a result of implementing a four-day

school week, including those for students, teachers, parents,

administrators, staff and the local community, relating to, but

not limited to, academic performance, productivity, absenteeism,

morale, instruction time, child care, extracurricular

activities, at-risk students and program expansion; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

examine what types of schools would be more likely to benefit

from the implementation of a four-day school week schedule,

including urban, suburban or rural school districts; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

examine the advantages and disadvantages of implementing a four-

day school week schedule on a full-time basis versus a limited-

time basis; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

prepare a report of its findings and transmit copies of the

report to the Education Committee of the House of

Representatives and to the full House of Representatives within

one year of the adoption of this resolution.