Public Schools In Louisiana Moving To 4-Day School Week
Vernon Parish is trading in five-day school weeks for a lVernon Parish Moves to 4-Day School Weekittle more breathing room — and they’re not alone. Starting in August 2025, public school students in Vernon will head to class Tuesday through Friday under a newly approved hybrid four-day schedule.
It’s a move that’s been gaining steam across Louisiana, with Avoyelles, Evangeline, Winn, and LaSalle Parishes already giving the shortened week a go. Now, Vernon is officially on board. In total, there are nine Parishes in Louisiana that have made the switch.
Will 4-Day School Weeks Become The Norm? Do You Agree?
The school board vote passed with ten members saying “yes,” one voting “no,” and one absent.
While most Mondays will be school-free, there will be a handful of them where students will need to grab their backpacks and head in. Those dates include:
August: 11, 18, 25
September: 8, 15, 22, 29
November: 10, 17
December: 15
March: 23
April: 13, 20
So Far, Nine Parishes Have Switched To 4-Day School Weeks
So why the switch? According to Vernon Parish School Board Personnel Director Joey Bartz, it mostly boils down to dollars and cents.
“We are conservatively projecting to see somewhere in the neighborhood of $1-$1.5 million in savings and reimbursement by utilizing the hybrid calendar,” Bartz shared. Those savings will come from things like meal reimbursements, energy costs, and substitute teacher pay.
And if you're wondering how parents will juggle that extra day off — you’re not alone. While it may take some adjusting, districts around Louisiana say the benefits are stacking up, not just in finances, but in student and teacher morale too.
Will School In Calcasieu Parish Be Next?
As school calendars keep shifting to meet changing needs, Vernon Parish is just the latest in what may become a new normal for education in the Bayou State.
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