This guest post comes from Emily Morton, research scientist atNWEA. Views expressed in guest posts are those of the author.
Four-day school weeks are rapidly expanding in rural areas across the U.S. As of 2019, over650 districtsacross 24 states are using this schedule — a 600% increase since 1999. The schedule is particularly popular in ruralColorado,Montana,OklahomaandOregon. As this option grows in popularity, state leaders are eager to learn about theimpactson students and schools.
Evidence and Outcomes
Districts that switch to four-day school weeks generally do so to cut costs on transportation, operations and support staff. In the last few years, improving teacher recruitment and retention has become another commonly cited reason. The communities that have adopted the schedule overwhelmingly prefer it to a five-day week and very few districts are switching back. Teachers, families and studentsprefer itbecause they think it increases teacher prep and family time, improves student attendance, behavior and school climate, and doesn’t impact academics.
However, there is little evidence confirming these benefits. For cost savings, districtsreduce spendingby only about 2% or about $57,000 on average. This amount may be meaningful for daily operations in some districts, but if districts are hoping for a fiscal game-changer, they may be disappointed.
Otherwise, there is not yet any clear evidence on the impacts on teacher recruitment and retention or performance. There are alsono differencesin attendance rates, and findings on student behavior and school climate are mixed. While in-school bullying and fightingrates decrease, there are no differences inschool climate ratingsand juvenilecrime rates increaseoutside of school.
Moreover, research shows the impacts on achievement depend on the characteristics of the schedule and the district. While average effects on test scores tend to be negative and small in both math and reading, not all districts experience this same impact. In districts that extend school days to eight or more hours per day, the effect onstudent test scoresis negligible. Unfortunately, in districts that have school days shorter than eight hours, students are progressing significantly less quickly than their peers attending school five days a week.
Separate studies find that district rurality also matters for the schedule’s impacts on achievement. Districts in rural areas see less or no impact ontest scores, whereas districts located in towns or suburbs that adopt the four-day week experience larger negative effects.
The Role of State Policymakers
Concerned about negative academic impacts, several states are currently debating putting a stop to the trend. InMissouriandTexas, legislators recently proposed mandating a minimum number of school days that would functionally end four-day school weeks in their states.Oklahomapassed legislation in 2019 that requires districts to apply for a waiver and meet certain requirements to use a four-day week. Alternatively,New Mexicoplaced a moratorium on new adoptions of the schedule to further research its impacts on students.
Nevertheless, in most states, four-day weeks are likely here to stay. The schedule is so popular in some communities that even increasing the mandated number of total school days may not result in districts switching back to a five-day week. In Oklahoma, for example, some districts that didnot qualifyfor a waiver are offering virtual Fridays or extending the school year to stay on a four-day week.
As legislative debates continue and adoption increases, state leaders can use the existing evidence to establish policy that protects against the potential negative effects on student achievement. More specifically, state leaders can consider ways to monitorinstructional time, achievement and other relevant outcomes by:
1. Auditing annual instructional minutes in each subject and requiring that four-day districts provide as much or more learning time in core subjects as five-day week districts.
2. Monitoring student achievement and other relevant outcomes in each four-day week district. States can compare the district’s progress to their own previous data (from before the switch) and to the progress of otherwise similar five-day week districts.
As four-day school weeks reach increasing numbers of students across the U.S., monitoring the implementation and outcomes is a critical step toward ensuring all students have equal opportunities for academic success.
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As Four-Day School Weeks Gain Popularity, States Look to Evidence
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FAQs
Evidence and Outcomes
Do 4 day school weeks increase attendance? ›
The RAND researchers estimated that the districts with four-day school weeks that they studied had slightly higher attendance than comparable districts with a five-day week.
What are the good things about 4 day school weeks? ›
Improved student performance: Some studies have shown that students perform better on standardized tests with the four-day week model. Retaining teachers: Shortening the school week has been found to improve teacher retention and job satisfaction.
Does shortening the school week impact student performance evidence from the four-day school week? ›
These findings suggest there is little evidence that moving to a four-day week compromises student academic achievement. This research has policy relevance to the current U.S. education system, where many school districts must cut costs.
What parents think about 4 day school week? ›
Turner says his research team's surveys have found that 70 to 80 percent of parents overall actually like the four-day week. "Some of the benefits they talk about are increased family time. They think students are less stressed. They think their morale at the school is better," says Dr.
What state has the most 4-day school weeks? ›
Four-day school weeks are rapidly expanding in rural areas across the U.S. As of 2019, over 650 districts across 24 states are using this schedule — a 600% increase since 1999. The schedule is particularly popular in rural Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma and Oregon.
Why are 4 days of school better than 5? ›
With a longer weekend, students have more time to rest and engage in extracurricular activities, which can lead to better attendance during the week. This, in turn, can lead to improved academic performance. Furthermore, a four-day school week can help to boost teacher morale.
Do 4-day school weeks improve mental health? ›
Parents repeatedly emphasize its effect on childrens' mental health and overall well-being. Many Life School students and parents report reduced feelings of stress and burnout. A shorter school week means fewer days of intense academics, allowing everyone to recharge over the long weekend.
What are the pros and cons of a four-day work week? ›
Pros of a 4-day work week can include cost savings, increased productivity, and employee retention. Some disadvantages, however, can include scheduling challenges, reduced productivity, and added stress.
Is the four-day school week detrimental to student success? ›
The research is mixed on the impact of four-day weeks on student achievement, but most studies find small to medium negative impacts on achievement on average. These negative effects are roughly equivalent to a student being two to seven weeks behind where they would have been if they had stayed on a five-day week.
While the mean test scores for five-day week schools exceeded those of four-day week schools in 11 of the 12 test comparisons, the differences were slight, with only one area revealing a statistically significant difference.
Why are longer school days better for students? ›
An expanded school schedule engages students more fully, and children learn better in a more stimulating environment. By reducing the pressure on the system to cram math and reading and science into too few hours, the new school day opens up the schedule for subjects that students enjoy and teachers like to teach.
Is a 4 day school week the next trend in education? ›
Four-day school weeks are gaining popularity nationwide to save money and recruit new teachers. In fact, a PBS News article in September reported that nearly 900 school districts operate on a four-day schedule.
Is a 4-day week good for students? ›
By reducing the traditional five-day school week to four days, students are granted an extra day of relaxation, allowing them to recharge and be more focused during their time in school. One of the key advantages of a four-day school week is the increased opportunity for students to get the rest they need.
What are the negatives of a 4-day school week? ›
The Cons. THE SCHEDULE IS INEQUITABLE. THE COST SAVINGS IS MINIMAL FOR MOST. LONGER DAYS ARE TOUGH ON YOUNGER STUDENTS.
Why are more US schools shifting to a four-day week? ›
Currently, the motivation is solely that of teacher retention and recruitment, with the four-day school week being used as a non-monetary benefit schools can offer teachers."
Do 4 day school weeks improve test scores? ›
Findings varied by statistical model. The big trade-off, RAND found, was in student achievement. Math and English test scores didn't fall when schools switched to a four-day week. But they didn't grow as fast as they did in similar districts in the same states that kept a five-day schedule.
Do 4 day school weeks improve mental health? ›
Parents repeatedly emphasize its effect on childrens' mental health and overall well-being. Many Life School students and parents report reduced feelings of stress and burnout. A shorter school week means fewer days of intense academics, allowing everyone to recharge over the long weekend.
How many schools in Arkansas go 4 days a week? ›
In the 2019-20 year, only four schools in the state were operating on a four-day schedule. By the 2023-24 school year, that number had jumped to 89 — a more than twentyfold increase. Nationally, the number of school districts with a four-day school week has increased dramatically in recent years.
Why are 3 day weekends good for students? ›
An extra day of the weekend would give students an additional twenty-four hours to study or finish assignments. It would also give teachers more time to plan fun, interactive lessons that students are more engaged and interested in.
