More schools adopt four-day week amid strong opinions

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. – With Neelyville School District’s recent decision to move to a four-day week, the number of schools doing the same in Missouri swelled to 163. This new model of education has elicited strong perspectives. 

The response of students and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive according to Carie Fowler, superintendent of the Malden School District. Malden moved to the new model after the COVID-19 pandemic. She observed a significant increase in faculty and student morale. 

One of the largest factors influencing her district’s decision was to attract and retain top talent. 

“Retaining quality educators is so important,” Fowler affirmed. 

Superintendent Robert Brown of the four-day Twin Rivers District agreed, “We are financially unable to compete with several larger districts in the area. This was a way of providing a benefit for our employees that was not available in other neighboring districts.” 

According to Missouri State University, 31% of schools have adopted the new schedule. However, this represents just over 11% of students statewide. 

The disparity indicates the districts making the switch are lower population density and more rural. It remains to be seen if urban districts will adopt the practice in large numbers to avoid losing out on educators. 

The benefits go beyond faculty retention, according to Fowler. She relayed that student attendance was up and instances of disciplinary action were down. According to the Center for School and Student Progress, violent incidents at four-day schools reduced by 31%. Brown shared similar trends of increased student participation and fewer disciplinary referrals. 

For academic achievement, the Missouri State Board of Education finds no positive or negative impact. Fowler elaborated that her school still exceeds the 1,044 state instruction hour minimum despite the shortened week. This is accomplished through longer days and shorter holiday breaks. 

As reported by the Missouri Independent, Missouri State University professor and four-day school week expert Jon Turner clarified, “It is pretty consistent nationwide. As you protect instructional hours, there is a minimal if any negative academic impact.” 

The four-day week is not universally well received, however. The Missouri Independent described several bills introduced in the State Legislature that could curb the increasing trend. 

Democratic Senator Doug Beck seeks to place restrictions on districts seeking the new schedule if their population is greater than 30,000. Republican Representative Aaron McMullen and Democratic Representative Robert Sauls are working to craft similar legislation, according to the Independent. 

Constituents have raised concerns over increased childcare costs and children spending more time in abusive home environments with a shortened week. 

Brown clarified, “Each district in the area shares a lot of common issues, but each board, superintendent, and community must decide what is best for their own district.”