A fifth-grade teacher in a small Texas school district finds her four-day school week going viral on TikTok, with the community appreciating the schedule for its flexibility and positive impact on teacher retention and family life.
When Courtney White, a fifth-grade math teacher, tells people about her school's four-day week schedule, the common reaction is surprise, often accompanied by the playful question, 'Wait, do you work in Narnia?' This isn't a reference to a fantastical realm, but rather a small school district in Texas that has embraced a four-day school week , with classes held from Tuesday to Thursday.
White's casual TikTok video about her unique schedule unexpectedly gained significant traction, generating numerous views and a deluge of inquiries. This prompted her to create three follow-up videos to address the common questions. Reflecting on the initial virality, White admitted, 'I was confused on why they're going viral, because to me, it was just normal.' The district's decision to transition from a five-day to a four-day school week was the result of extensive community surveys and voting, implemented in August 2024. The academic year begins with five-day weeks in August, before transitioning to the four-day schedule after Labor Day. The district briefly reverts to a five-day week in April to accommodate state testing. Each school day has been extended by 25 minutes to compensate for the shortened week. Teachers are required to attend school on one Monday per month for professional development, lesson planning, and grading tasks. Despite the shorter week, the total number of school days in the year decreased only slightly, from 180 to 172. While White prefers to keep her specific location private, the district's information is available on its website, highlighting teacher retention and increased flexibility as key motivations for the change. The district also aims to improve student attendance rates and reduce the demand for substitute teachers, which have often been in short supply. If enhancing teacher morale was a goal, the shift appears to be successful, at least based on anecdotal evidence.\White explained, 'We still get paid very similar to the districts that are around us. Every single time it's hiring season, I've had friends that are like, 'Put my name in there immediately! I want the four-day week, even if I have to take a pay cut.'' To accommodate parents on the non-school Mondays, the district provides a childcare 'camp' for a modest daily fee of $10. White herself utilizes this camp for her older children on her work Mondays, with her youngest child attending full-time daycare. She also noted that many parents schedule their children's doctor and dentist appointments on Mondays to make the rest of the week less hectic. The school district doesn't compromise on holidays, offering a week off for Thanksgiving and Easter, as well as two weeks off during the Christmas season. The reaction to the four-day school week has been overwhelmingly positive, with comments like 'I can't even listen because I'm so jealous of you. LOL. Happy For you!!! Sad for me!!!' and 'Where is this heaven located?' reflecting widespread enthusiasm. Another person expressed the sentiment: 'I am convinced this would increase my happiness by AT LEAST 20% overall.' Considering all these positive aspects, one might wonder if a four-day school week is as enchanting as the magical world of Narnia. White observes that the limited negative feedback has predominantly originated from social media platforms, rather than from families or staff within the district who are directly experiencing the advantages of the schedule. The flexibility offered is clearly resonating with the teaching staff, who appreciate having an extra day to rest or to focus on personal matters, and with parents who can coordinate appointments and family time with greater ease. This approach demonstrates how adapting school schedules can lead to improvements in various factors such as teacher retention, family schedules, and student attendance, making the school environment better for the whole community
Four-Day School Week Texas Schools Teacher Retention School Schedule Education Reform
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
2025 Texas high school football playoff predictions: Best bi-district matchupsThe Dallas Morning News experts break down the top first-round matchups in the Dallas area for each classification and region.
Read more »
Mother Charged with Theft for Misappropriating School District Funds Intended for Children's TherapyA Philadelphia mother has been charged with theft after allegedly stealing over $61,000 from the Philadelphia School District, funds intended to provide therapeutic care for her children. The accused, Laurel Schullere, is alleged to have claimed the money would be used by a non-existent company, Missing Pieces. Authorities found the company's listed addresses were either unrelated or abandoned, highlighting the fraudulent nature of the scheme. The Attorney General condemned the actions, emphasizing the exploitation of a system designed to support children's needs and the diversion of taxpayer dollars. The case underscores concerns about oversight and accountability within the school district and the importance of preventing fraud within programs meant to help vulnerable children.
Read more »
Resident asks Orange school board to consider adding several religious holidays to district calendarA resident of the Orange City School District has submitted a petition requesting that the district add the religious holidays of the Lunar New Year, Diwali and Eid al-Fitr to the school calendar as days off for students each year.
Read more »
Germantown mother accused of stealing $61k from the Philadelphia School DistrictLaurel Schullere pocketed $61,000 in payments meant to cover theraputic services for her two children, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said.
Read more »
NJ school district mishandled bullying case, tried to silence victim's family, lawsuit statesToday's Video Headlines: 11/12/25
Read more »
Parents push back against Granite School District's plan to close two elementary schoolsParents are speaking out after sending a letter to the Granite School District urging board members to vote against closing their children’s schools — Morningsi
Read more »