‘The research is still emerging’: M-D to decide on four-day school week in August

A decision on whether to drop Fridays from the McCall-Donnelly School District’s academic calendar will be made in August. 

A final report on the potential change was presented to M-D trustees on Monday night, but the report did not make a recommendation. Instead, Superintendent Tim Thomas will review the report and make a recommendation to the board at its Aug. 11 meeting. 

“I want to do some research myself over the summer,” Thomas said. 

No matter what the board decides in August, all five schools in the district will remain on a five-day schedule for the 2025-26 school year. The 2026-27 school year is the soonest a new schedule could be implemented.

The potential switch to a four-day schedule was studied by a committee of teachers, administrators, school board members, and parents. The group met twice a month starting in January and compiled data to inform the board’s decision. 

The committee’s report developed a list of pros, cons, and unanswered questions tied to student achievement, staff recruitment and retention, childcare, school sports, and other topics. 

“I really appreciated the effort that went into turning it from an emotional decision or process into (something) more data-driven,” said M-D trustee Kelly Miller. “I think that’s really important.”

Nish Weiseth, a parent of two M-D students who served on the committee, told the board that too many questions remain unanswered to justify changing to a four-day schedule. 

“The truth is, the research is still emerging,” Weiseth said. “This is a new national trend, and we don’t yet have sufficient long-term evidence to determine if it would truly benefit all students in the district.”

Hypothetical schedules

The committee developed mock calendars to determine how the schedule change could affect instructional hours. 

One scenario would add 15 minutes to the end of elementary school days, 20 minutes to the end of middle school days, and about 45 minutes to the end of high school days. That model would see about the same amount of class time for high school students, about 36 hours fewer for middle school students, and about 50 hours fewer for elementary school students. 

Another scenario would see the school year start earlier and end later to make up the time. Holiday breaks could also be reduced to build hours back into the schedule. 

A third scenario considered by the committee would see students attend school on 10 Fridays throughout the year to make up the lost instruction time. 

Each scenario would meet state accreditation requirements and ensure students do not fall below minimum thresholds for classroom hours. 

Studies: four-day schedule does not favor academic performance

The committee found that academic performance declines when students are on a four-day schedule, though the final report noted that it is unclear if it is because of lost instruction time. 

“Data generally does not support positive academic achievement effect from a four-day schedule,” the report said. 

Two studies referenced in the report showed that schools with five-day schedules saw more students score proficient or advanced than schools with four-day schedules.

Meanwhile, three studies suggested that the gap in student achievement widens the longer a school is on a four-day schedule. Math was consistently shown in the studies to be more affected than reading. 

Student benefits of the four-day school week include more sleep, reduced stress, more flexible family time, and more time for hobbies, jobs, extra-curricular activities, homework, and chores, according to national surveys.

However, surveys also show 80% of high school students and 90% of elementary school students stay at home on the extra day off, with higher consumption of soda, less exercise, increased food insecurity, higher drug use, and increased crime. 

Staff recruitment and retention 

Other school districts have commonly cited improved staff recruitment and retention as benefits of switching to a four-day schedule, but the committee’s research was unable to verify that. 

“Recruitment and retention is a big reason why some districts adopt the four-day schedule, but there is little evidence to support it as a positive outcome overall,” the report said. 

Reduced hours could cause some classified staff to see reduced pay and lost benefits, which would help cut costs but could also lead to staff leaving. 

A four-day school schedule could also create childcare conflicts for parents, teachers, and school sports coaches, according to the report. Currently, there are fewer than 20 childcare spaces available through existing providers in the district. 

2023 survey results

In December 2023, the school district surveyed parents and staff on whether a four-day week or a five-day week was preferred. 

Each group favored the four-day week, with about 65% of staff in favor and about 62% of parents. Overall, 132 staff members and 592 parents responded to the survey. 

About 27% of parents and 21% of teachers preferred the five-day week option. The survey also included an option that included both four-day and five-day weeks, which was the least popular among respondents. 

Four-day school weeks have been in place at Cascade Schools and in the Meadows Valley School District since the 2022-23 school year. 

Across Idaho, 76 of the state’s 115 school districts operate on a four-day week, along with 19 charter schools, according to Idaho EdNews.