Schools in the McCall area will remain on a five-day schedule for at least another five years, McCall-Donnelly School District trustees decided Monday.
The board voted unanimously to table conversations about moving to a four-day school week at the district’s five schools until 2030, at which point the topic will be re-visited.
McCall-Donnell Superintendent Tim Thomas recommended sticking with a five-day schedule in a memo to the board amid a lack of “quality evidence” in support of a four-day schedule.
Thomas cited a 15-year study of schools on four-day schedules in Montana that suggested lower academic achievement and worse attendance rates for students compared to those on five-day schedules.
“Data revealed that the four-day school week has not been beneficial to most students in the state of Montana,” Thomas said in the memo.
This school year, which begins Aug. 26 for M-D, was set for a five-day calendar regardless of the board’s decision for moving forward. Donnelly Elementary School, Barbara Morgan Elementary School, Payette Lakes Middle School, McCall-Donnelly High School, and Heartland High School are all within the district.
M-D committee study
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.
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.
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.
“Data generally does not support positive academic achievement effect from a four-day schedule,” the report said.
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Hypothetical calendars were also developed by the committee to demonstrate how the change could make school days longer or extend the school year.
The district is required to meet state accreditation standards and minimum thresholds for student instructional hours no matter what schedule is in place.
Staff impacts unclear
Other school districts commonly cite improved staff recruitment and retention as benefits of switching to a four-day schedule, but the committee’s research was unable to verify that.
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.
The district’s four-day schedule consideration followed a 2023 survey that found most parents and teachers favored a four-day schedule.
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.
