Study finds Idaho's 4-day school weeks don't save money, ed impact unknown - The Spokesman Review
BOISE - A new study by a rural education group examined the 42 of Idaho’s 115 school districts that have gone to four-day school weeks as a money-saving move, and found that none have seen significant savings as a result and there’s been no... Just 1 percent of school districts nationwide have four-day school weeks, the report found. “Contrary to expectations, some districts saw their costs rise as a result of the need for additional enrichment activities and after-school snacks during the extended day. The researchers found some benefits from the new schedule, from opportunities for enrichment on the fifth day to longer days on the other four that better matched parents’ work schedules. But, they wrote, “None of the districts interviewed had rigorously assessed the effects of the four-day week on student achievement. “We are well aware of districts throughout the state that have made this decision to move to a four-day week,” she said in a statement. “This is a local decision by schools boards, and we at the department will support districts regardless of their decision. Source: www.spokesman.com
