Welcome to Playground Post, a bi-weekly newsletter that keeps education innovators ahead of what’s next.

Here’s what we have on deck for today…

1. Teacher pay gap creates opportunity for innovation

2. Four-day school weeks could boost teacher retention

3. What are the benefits of a four-day school week?

Teacher pay gap creates opportunity for innovation

RAND researchers used the 2024 State of the American Teacher survey to develop a report that reveals some startling truths about teachers in America:

• Two-thirds of teachers received a raise last year, averaging $2,000 — but that's nowhere near the $16,000 increase they say they need

• One in four teachers aren't paid for the extra work they do at their schools — highlighting a significant gap in compensation practices

• Teachers in single-earner households spend more on housing, childcare, and student loans than similar working adults, while receiving fewer benefits

The report concluded that better pay and benefits could improve teacher retention.

While EdTech often dominates education innovation, the real opportunity might be in developing creative solutions for teacher compensation and benefits that could transform retention rates.

Four-day school weeks could boost teacher retention

Better pay and benefits may not be the only solution for teacher retention.

Wagoner Public Schools Superintendent Randy Harris — who recently implemented a four-day school week across his district — claims the four-day schedule has partially addressed challenges with hiring and retaining teachers.

According to Harris, the change allowed the district to reallocate budget savings to retain staff

Education innovators, here's an opportunity:

If this four-day school week catches on, there may be a growing market that could open new doors for innovation.

What are the benefits of a four-day school week?

So four-day school weeks could improve teacher retention. But what are the other benefits for school districts?

Wagoner Public Schools Superintendent Randy Harris says:

• Better attendance rates and more engaged students during class time

• Fewer disciplinary issues — thanks to the extra day for students to decompress

• 4% savings on operating costs from reduced utilities and transportation

• Increase of scholarships from $750K to $5M in just a decade

As more districts experiment with flexible schedules, there may be growing demand for products to help schools transition smoothly — from parent communication tools to professional development for teachers adapting to fewer school days.

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We’ll be back with another edition on Tuesday. See you then!

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