School districts turn to 4-day school weeks despite test score data
May 10, 2023
By Shannon Longworth (Reporter), Ben Burke (Producer)
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback from lawmakers
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
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Last Updated
11 months ago
Four-day school weeks (4dsw) have become a growing trend deployed by school districts in order to combat teacher shortages. 850 school districts across the country have dropped a fifth day of instruction, up from 650 in 2019. While more popular in rural districts, four-day school weeks are catching on in metropolitan areas as well.
The rapid growth in popularity since the pandemic began may have contributed to lower test scores in reading, math, history and civics among U.S. eighth graders in 2022. According to data compiled by a policy group at Oregon State University, less classroom time correlates directly with lower test scores and academic achievement.
“A comparison of English language arts and math test scores showed that students on the 4dsw have lower scores, over time, when compared with peers on a five-day schedule,” the RAND corporation said in a summary of its study. A different study also found higher absenteeism and lower on-time graduation rates at schools with a four-day school week.
There have been pros reported as well, which include less burnout and more family time for students and teachers. A study also found less bullying taking place in districts with four-day school weeks.
“Given these mixed findings, communities are likely to make different choices about the 4dsw depending on their goals and the local context,” the RAND corporation said.
As we’ve touched on before in previous reports — 4-day school weeks are becoming a growing trend — deployed by school districts in order to combat teacher shortages.
But according to data — that’s having an adverse effect on student learning.
The data — compiled by a policy group at Oregon State University — found that less classroom time correlates directly with lower test scores and academic achievement.
A different study also found higher absenteeism and lower on-time graduation rates at schools with a 4-day school week.
There have been pros reported as well — which include less burnout and more family time for students and teachers.
A study also found less bully taking place in districts with 4-day school weeks.
850 school districts across the country have dropped a fifth day of instruction — up from 650 in 20-19.
While more popular in rural districts — 4-day school weeks are catching on in metropolitan areas as well.
The rapid growth in popularity since the pandemic began may have contributed to lower test scores in reading — math — history and civics among U-S eighth graders last year.
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Media Landscape
This story is a Media Miss by the right as only 0% of the coverage is from right leaning media.
Learn more about this dataLeft 11%
Center 89%
Right 0%
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
+0
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Left
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4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on The Billings Gazette
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on Lincoln Journal Star
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on Missoulian
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on Tulsa World
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on Helena Independent Record
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on Montana Standard
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback from lawmakers
Click to see story on The Columbian
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on Tucson
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on Omaha World-Herald
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on The Sentinel
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on Winston-Salem Journal
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on HDR | Hickory Daily Record
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on Rapid City Journal Media Group
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on GoDanRiver.com
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback
Click to see story on McDowellNews.com
4-day school weeks, gaining in popularity, face pushback from lawmakers
Click to see story on The Eagle
Click to close
Lean
Right
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Right
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Far
Right
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Untracked Bias
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18 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
18
Leaning Left
2
Center
16
Leaning Right
0
Last Updated
11 months ago
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