Students at the Deuel School in Clear Lake, South Dakota are getting into the swing of a four-day school week. The change went into effect at the beginning of the school year. Administrators at the school say they made the switch to 4-day weeks for several reasons, but mostly for staff development. On Fridays, when the kids aren't in class, it's teachers who do the learning.

Deuel School is the newest school in the state to go to a four-day school week. As a result of the change, students now stay in class for 20 minutes longer.  But so far, most seem pleased with the new schedule.

Superintendent Dean Christensen says, "I think we've gotten off to a very good start and we're only going to grow with that as time goes on." Christensen says as the teaching field becomes more high-tech, it's necessary to carve out time for the teachers to brush up on their skills. He says, "It just takes time for teachers to be able to put those types of lessons together and so that is what these Fridays are being used for by our teaching staff.

With no regular scheduled classes on Fridays, teachers are also able to offer extra help to those who need it. Plans are also in the works to create a gifted program at Deuel School. Right now, the four-day weeks are only scheduled to last for two years, but it could continue depending on how well it works out.