Growing Popularity of 4-Day School Weeks Despite Lack of Data on Effects

Students began the school year at an elementary school in Minnesota. Across the country, four-day school weeks are becoming increasingly common, particularly in rural areas, though research on their effectiveness remains inconclusive. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

In central Iowa, northeast of Des Moines, the Collins-Maxwell Community School District, serving around 400 students, is among many districts transitioning to a four-day week. Like other rural K-12 schools, Collins-Maxwell faces teacher shortages and views the condensed schedule as a recruitment tool. The district also hopes to reduce student absences, which often peak on Mondays and Fridays. While the district kept a five-day schedule for August and September, middle and high schools will generally be closed on Mondays going forward. To comply with Iowas required instructional hours, school days will be lengthened during the four-day week.

Superintendent Marc Snavely explained that observing nearby schools adopting shorter weeks and hearing feedback from peers encouraged him to consider the change. Snavely anticipates the new schedule will boost teacher morale, reduce burnout, and make the district more appealing compared to larger nearby districts offering higher pay. Ultimately, the reason for the four-day week is staff recruitment and retention, Snavely said. He noted that surrounding districts reported fewer disciplinary issues and improved attendance after switching.

Many rural districts nationwide also promote four-day weeks as a strategy to stretch tight budgets amid uncertain K-12 funding from state and federal sources. However, researchers caution that while attendance and classroom behavior may improve, the overall impact on academic outcomes is unclear.

Emily Morton, lead researcher at the Northwest Evaluation Association, which provides standardized testing for K-12 schools, noted that expected benefits often do not appear in the data. Extended school days can even negatively affect academic performance. Despite this, four-day weeks are gaining popularity, and parents and students tend to support them once implemented.

Currently, over 2,100 schools in 26 states operate on a four-day schedule, according to Oregon State University researchers. In Iowa, participation has increased from six districts in 2023-24 to more than twenty-four in 2025. In Colorado, two-thirds of districts have adopted a similar schedule. So far, this trend is largely rural, with no urban districts reported to use the four-day week. Morton emphasized that the rural experience differs significantly from suburban or urban perceptions.

Dr. Shanon Taylor, an education professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, explained that districts usually adopt the model for financial and staffing reasons rather than academic improvement. Rural districts can save on transportation, utilities, and building operations, while offering three-day weekends helps attract teachers. However, parents of younger students may face challenges arranging childcare on the day off.

A 2025 review by University of Oregon researchers examined 11 studies on four-day weeks, assessing academic performance, attendance, discipline, and other outcomes. Results varied by grade and location, but overall, no significant positive academic effects were found. Researchers emphasized the importance of providing enriching activities on the off day to mitigate negative effects.

In some states, the policy has created friction between local districts and state authorities. For example, in Oklahoma, when the state attempted to limit four-day weeks, some districts switched to virtual Fridays with minimal live instruction. In response, legislation now restricts public schools to two days of virtual instruction per year, except under specific emergencies. Missouri requires voter approval in certain large districts before adopting or continuing a four-day week, and New Mexicos attempt to mandate longer school calendars was blocked in court. Arkansas has considered allowing flexible instructional days based on school performance, with many rural districts already on four-day schedules.

Despite the growing adoption, uncertainty about the academic and social impacts of four-day weeks persists. Morton emphasized that small rural districts may lack sufficient data to measure long-term outcomes, and comparative analysis with nearby districts is essential to understand the real effects. Even if your test scores remain flat, nearby districts might improve, making your flat results relatively negative, she said.

Reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at [email protected].

Analysis: Four-Day School Weeks as a Staffing Strategy

From my perspective, the shift to a four-day school week in rural districts reflects structural pressures rather than an instructional reform. In the Collins-Maxwell Community School District, the change is primarily linked to teacher recruitment and retention amid persistent staffing shortages.

District leaders point to reported improvements in attendance and discipline from peer districts, particularly reductions in Monday and Friday absences. To meet state instructional hour requirements, schools are extending daily schedules, maintaining compliance while reducing the number of in-person days.

Available research does not confirm academic gains from the four-day model. National studies and recent reviews show mixed or neutral outcomes, with some evidence that longer school days may negatively affect student performance, especially in certain grade levels.

Despite inconclusive academic results, adoption continues to expand. More than 2,100 schools in 26 states now operate on four-day schedules, with rapid growth in Iowa and widespread use in Colorado. The model remains concentrated in rural areas, where cost savings and labor market constraints are more pronounced.

Based on current evidence, the four-day school week should be viewed as a workforce and budget management tool. Its long-term educational impact remains uncertain, underscoring the need for consistent data collection and comparisons with neighboring districts.

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• 4-day school weeks are growing in popularity, despite a lack of data on the effects