Indiana schools have the opportunity to operate on a four-day schedule.

There are four guidelines, according to Indiana Capital Chronicle, that corporations must follow, which include: schools must have transportation for students who do want to go five days, there must be a $45,000+ minimum teacher salary threshold, schools must have an “A” grade through the new A-F accountability model, and finally they must offer free activities and recreation for the days schools are not in session.

LaPorte Schools are not currently looking into four-day school weeks.

“Before any school corporation would make a move to a four-day school week, there is an abundance of preliminary discussion that would need to take place. The answers to the ‘why’ question would have to be very strong and research-based. There are so many different nuances that would come into play with such a move...some positive, some negative. There would have to be staff, students, parents, and community input taken into consideration as well. I have read about school corporations making this move, but I have not followed up on how well or not well these corporations are doing as a result of the 4-day decision," LPHS Principal Scott Upp said.

Out of 850 corporations nationwide, only one school in Indiana follows this law, Vinton Elementary. The benefits are showing, including budget savings, fewer disciplinary referrals, fewer staff absences, and higher passing percentages.

LPHS Teachers are showing interest in a four-day week.

“I am in favor, thumbs up…I think it would be great for the entire country to transition to a four-day work week. The 40 hour work week was created for an old society where families had only one person working. Work was designed for a lifestyle where someone was at home; however, now we are in a situation where that's not true. Both people need to work full time. The time of living for enjoying life has disappeared. I think we need to re-evaluate that,” English teacher Jenna Johnson said.

The four-day school policy can be a great thing for students in many ways.

“I'm not sure of the exact specifics of how a four-day school week would work for the work co-op program, but I believe that it would be beneficial in total. By having the opportunity to work a full extra day, work co-op students would be able to make up their hours each month much more efficiently, while in turn getting paid more for the extra work. Not only that, but there would also be more time for recreational activities, such as hanging out with friends, something that I have always found to be struggling when you are trying to plan around work,” work co-op student Evan Komasinski said.

School grades come out in October, leading to more schools potentially having the opportunity to be a part of this policy.