Report: Colorado must review academic, overall performance of 4-day school week

(The Center Square) – A nonprofit policy organization is recommending the Colorado Department of Education immediately examine the effectiveness of four-day school weeks in the state.

The Keystone Policy Center published a 21-page report with both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the outcomes of the four-day school week. It found academic performance of districts with five-day weeks exceeded those with a four-day schedule. The report found four-day schedules have no significant impact on budgets or teacher recruitment and retention.

“Given these facts – that four-day weeks are not better for students and don’t demonstrably meet the goals of districts making the change – the Keystone Policy Center recommends that the Colorado Department of Education take a long, hard look at the practice as soon as possible,” according to the report, “Doing Less With Less: How a four-day school week affects student learning and the teacher workforce.”

After the state legislature passed a law providing public school districts with more scheduling flexibility in the 1980s, the concept gradually spread from rural areas to metropolitan districts.

“One of Colorado’s overarching policy goals in public education is to prepare students for life after high school, be that higher education, vocational training, or employment,” according to the report. “But, as the data and perspectives presented in this report show, the trend toward four-day school weeks in Colorado does not provide a net benefit to the state’s public school students. In fact, student achievement is not even the top consideration when districts make the switch.”

Many districts implemented four-day weeks to improve teacher recruitment and retention. The report cited several small studies showing the concept can positively impact teacher retention, although other factors were just as significant.

“And even that top consideration – teacher recruitment and retention – seems little affected by the altered calendar,” according to the report. “Budget savings are also negligible to nonexistent.”

The report cited several national studies showing four-day weeks had a negative impact on student achievement and academic growth. Other studies show the concept can positively impact attendance, lead to a decrease in bullying, improve student mental health but negatively impact physical health.

The report stated overall school district performance, measured by state standards, is significantly higher in five-day districts. Math and English language arts scores were seven percentage points higher in five-day districts compared to four-day districts.

“The Colorado Department of Education should create a panel composed of experts and stakeholders to investigate and provide recommendations… around the four-day school week,” the report recommended. “The panel’s work would be to ensure that all students whether in four-day or five-day school districts are receiving the support necessary to enable them to meet the state’s education standards.”

The report recommends the state adopt a rigorous approval process for districts when seeking to change to four-day weeks and the primary focus must be on whether the change will improve student outcomes.