Four Major Impacts of the Four-Day School Week Transition: Opportunities and Challenges for Districts to Weigh

After the pandemic, teachers widely reported high levels of burnout. Against this backdrop, the four-day school week is becoming an important benefit for some districts to attract and retain educators, especially those unable to raise salaries.

In fact, district leaders who have adopted the model say they have observed an increase in applicant numbers, and in one case, it even attracted teachers from other states.

"It really becomes a competitive advantage, especially for rural schools that struggle to attract good teachers—or even any teachers at all," said Andrea Phillips, a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation who has studied this topic.

As of 2019, more than 1,600 schools across 24 states had adopted the four-day week, and the trend continues to grow. Phillips noted that the model is especially common in smaller districts and west of the Mississippi River, due to varying state requirements on instructional time and the fact that per-pupil costs in small districts are often above average.

Superintendents of districts that have made the switch say the vast majority of teachers, students, administrators, and parents love the model—a claim supported by research and surveys.

"You can offer students more opportunities in a personalized learning environment," said Tom Rice, former principal of Gayville-Volin High School in South Dakota, who recently became superintendent of the Wolsey-Wessington School District in the same state. Both schools where he worked have adopted the four-day week.

Rice said Gayville-Volin saw significant improvements in absenteeism and disciplinary cases. Amy Britt, superintendent of the Bakersfield R-IV School District in Gainesville, Missouri, also confirmed similar positive changes in her district.

In Colorado's School District 27J in Brighton, graduation rates—especially among Latino students—have improved since the four-day week was implemented in 2018, said Superintendent Chris Fiedler.

What does it mean for the bottom line?

The four-day week can save districts money, but the savings may be smaller than expected.

According to a 2011 study by the Education Commission of the States, districts that made the switch saved an average of up to 5.4% of their total budgets, with actual savings ranging from 0.4% to 2.5%. That 2011 data is the most recent available from the organization.

Savings come mainly from transportation costs—primarily diesel fuel for buses—as well as hourly wages, school meals, and heating and cooling expenses.

Colorado's 27J saved $750,000 on fuel in the first year, less than 0.5% of its total budget, Fiedler said.

Bakersfield saved about 8%, or roughly $120,000, mainly from fuel. Still, "it's certainly not the 20% savings you might imagine," Britt said.

But Phillips noted that even small savings can be redirected to other important areas, such as teacher salaries or academic and social-emotional services for students.

What is the impact on academic performance?

Educators told K-12 Dive that academic performance in their districts either held steady or improved. For example, at Crutcho Public Schools in Oklahoma City, average test scores moved closer to the 300-point proficiency threshold on the Oklahoma Performance Index, said former Superintendent James Branscum.

"The four-day week itself doesn't seem to be that bad. What really drives achievement gaps is the reduction in instructional time."

— Paul Thompson, Associate Professor of Economics at Oregon State University's School of Public Policy

However, a RAND Corporation study found that students in four-day districts showed slower academic growth. After eighth grade, the differences in English language arts and math growth between four-day and five-day districts were considered "substantively significant"—and larger than the average gaps that most educational interventions can close, the study showed.

According to a study published in February 2022 in the Economics of Education Review, when four-day districts were divided into low, medium, and high categories based on instructional time, districts with lower instructional time showed negative effects on math and English language arts scores.

"The four-day week itself doesn't seem to be that bad. What really drives achievement gaps is the reduction in instructional time," said researcher Paul Thompson, an associate professor of economics at Oregon State University's School of Public Policy.

District leaders interviewed by K-12 Dive also noted that the pandemic has made accurate year-over-year comparisons difficult.

How is the fifth day structured?

On average, schools on a four-day week have school days about one hour longer, but students spend 85 fewer hours in school over the year compared to five-day districts, according to research published in the journal Education Finance and Policy.

Britt and Fiedler said high school students often use the fifth day of the four-day week for internships, community service, or work.

Some districts, such as Wolsey-Wessington, offer additional tutoring on the fifth day for students who need it.

Crutcho Public Schools requires students struggling with math and reading to attend on-campus tutoring on the fifth day. Other students must log into the district's virtual learning system for at least two hours, school officials said.

The fifth day can also be an opportunity to provide additional mental health services to students, said Crutcho Superintendent Melvin Perry. For example, the district's middle school offers group therapy on Fridays for middle school girls who have experienced trauma.

"They feel more prepared for the week. It has had a huge impact on the quality of teaching and learning."

— Amy Britt, Superintendent of Bakersfield R-IV School District in Gainesville, Missouri

Another option for some districts is to hold enrichment activities like cooking classes on the fifth day.

Districts vary in their requirements for whether teachers must be on campus on the fifth day.

At Crutcho, teachers support students online via Zoom for two hours on the fifth day, with the remaining time used for grading, staff meetings, professional development, and parent conferences.

At Bakersfield, teachers come to campus once a month on the fifth day for professional development. On other weeks, they work from home, using the fifth day to grade papers, prepare lessons, or engage in activities related to student clubs and sports, Britt said.

"They feel more prepared for the week," she said. "It has had a huge impact on the quality of teaching and learning."

Thompson said more research is needed on students' nutrition, physical activity, and risky behaviors on the off day. About 20% of schools provide meals to students on the fifth day, offered by the district or community organizations, Thompson said.

A 2018 Colorado study showed that in areas with four-day weeks, juvenile crime—especially property crime—increased by about 20%.

However, Fiedler said local law enforcement data does not support that conclusion. He added that choosing Monday rather than Friday as the off day might help curb potential troublemaking.

What is the impact on families?

"Overall, we hear very positive feedback about the four-day week," Phillips said.

Families can have more time together and can handle things like medical appointments or family trips according to their own work and family schedules.

However, Phillips noted that more research is needed on how the four-day week affects the most vulnerable families.

For example, the arrangement can be more difficult for dual-income parents who need to arrange childcare or ensure older children are safe at home alone.

A 2019 study estimated that the four-day week led to an 11% decline in employment among married mothers with children aged 5 to 13.

On the fifth day, the burden of childcare, meals, and physical activities shifts to families, Thompson said.

Few districts offer childcare on the fifth day. One exception is District 27J, which provides full-day childcare on Mondays (the no-school day) for $35 per day, up to fifth grade. About 300 of the district's 6,000 students are enrolled in childcare, Fiedler said.

Where will future research focus?

Researchers say it remains to be seen whether the four-day week will bring long-term benefits in teacher retention and satisfaction, as well as the well-being of students, families, and communities.

Phillips said more can be learned from districts that have adopted hybrid shortened-week models. For example, some districts have a five-day week for younger children and a four-day week for high schoolers. Others have a five-day week for most of the year and switch to a four-day week after school testing.

"If you're the first adopter, or an early adopter, it gives you an advantage," Phillips said. "But whether it will stand the test of time is unclear."