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Franklin County Schools is exploring a switch to a four-day school week to combat teacher turnover and improve student achievement.

Could Fridays be free? Franklin County Schools weighs 4-day school week

WCTV | By Brianna Shaw | April 28, 2025

With teacher burnout rising and test scores slipping, a shorter week may be the solution

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV) – Franklin County Schools is exploring a switch to a four-day school week to combat teacher turnover and improve student achievement.

Superintendent Steve Lanier said under the plan, students would attend school Monday through Thursday, with each day extended by 45 minutes to meet instructional time requirements.

“It’ll help reduce our teacher burnout, it’ll help increase the morale of the students and staff, it’ll reduce absenteeism, it’ll improve graduation rates and increase enrollments,” Lanier said.

The district currently sees a teacher turnover rate of about 30% annually.

This schedule shake-up could help keep and attract quality teachers.

Lanier said many classrooms are staffed by long-term substitutes or paraprofessionals, which he believes contributes to low reading scores.

“We wonder why sometimes there’s a problem in our students not being able to read and why we perform low on state testing, that’s got a lot to do with it,” he said.

One of the main concerns raised by parents is child care on Fridays. Lanier said the district plans to partner with The Nest, a free after-school program with locations in East Point, Apalachicola, and Carrabelle, to offer study hall on Fridays.

A recent survey conducted by the school district found that 60% of families support the move to a four-day week, while another 20% are open to it but want more information.

Some parents like Laura Toole believe the change is necessary.

“We need good educators here because our kids are failing and we’re failing our kids,” Toole said. “It’ll promote teachers wanting to come here. I don’t see another route. I think a four-day school week would be very beneficial.”

Still, not all parents are on board. Some took to social media to voice concerns about longer days for younger children and potential disruptions to family schedules.

The district is hosting a series of town halls to gather public input:
  • Monday, 6 p.m. – Apalachicola Bay Charter School Library
  • Tuesday, 6 p.m. – American Legion Post 82
  • Thursday, 6 p.m. – Franklin County School District Headquarters

Following the town halls, Lanier is expected to present his recommendation to the school board for consideration. He said he’s hoping to have a final decision by next school year.

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