Should schools adopt four-day weeks?
For many of us, four -day school weeks resemble a scenario far from our daily reality. And before the COVVI-19 crisis, the same could be said about four days of work. However, in 2025, up to 22% of employees said that their employer offered them an option for the four -day work week, according to Investigation of APA's work in America. So, does that mean that a reduced week is also in cards for the education system? The truth is that this system has been around for a long time now. In 2019, almost 1600 schools had implemented it, while this number increased to 2100 Schools in 2025. In this article, we will discuss what is involved in the transition around a shorter school week, as well as the advantages and challenges that various research and studies have revealed so far.
How does a four -day school week work?
The weekly calendar can be different from school to school, because there is no fixed way to make the transition from the traditional five -day week to a four -day shortcut. The main principle, however, is that students and teachers must be at school one day less during the week. Usually, the day of leave is Monday or Friday, to give students and teachers more free time to work on their personal and professional development, rest and spend more time with their friends and family. The day which is “lost” is generally balanced by extending the remaining days, although some schools choose to maintain the same class hours, despite the cup of a day.
Advantages of the transition around a four -day school week
Easier recruitment of teachers
The past few years have been difficult for teachers. The low wages and challenges related to the pandemic decreased their enthusiasm for the position, as indicated by 78% of respondents in this investigation. However, offering a more flexible schedule seems to be effective in attracting and retaining teachers, because it reduces their time and turnipping expenses, giving them more time to plan their courses. More importantly, schools with a four -day week have received more requests qualified candidates.
Profitability
One of the main advantages of the past one week of five to four days is the reduction in spending on the school district. One day less school per week means one day of payment payment for the transport of students, meals and overall operations. For example, when the Pueblo County School District 70 of Colorado adopted a four -day school week, they saved 2% of the district budget. Although this may not seem significant, this represents 1.1 million dollars that can be used for other important purposes.
More free time for students and educators
No more free time is an immediate effect of a shorter school week. For students, this involves as much as Four hours of additional free time per week to pass with their families and friends, make chores or attend sporting events without lacking lessons. For teachers, the overtime that they save their offers more flexibility to do shopping, make personal appointments and spend quality time with their loved ones. This can lead to an improvement in the balance between professional and private life and, therefore, decrease in professional exhaustion and less absence of health.
Less intimidation cases
A very positive effect which was noted in schools which adopted a week of four days is a decrease in intimidation and fighting incidents. The data is particularly encouraging, as in this 2019 studyParticipating schools have declared a decrease of 39% of intimidation incidents and 31% of fights. This study did not give a particular overview of the reasons for this positive effect, although it is important to mention that no particular effect has been observed on ACT scores or students attendance.
Challenges to keep in mind
Potential inequalities
A four -day school week also has its drawbacks. While some parents see the shorter calendar favorably because it allows them more time with their children, low -income families with two working parents may have trouble covering additional child care. Not to mention the negative impact that less day at school will have on children suffering from food insecurity. Such problems must be taken into account seriously before deciding to go to a shorter schedule.
Longer school days
As mentioned earlier, to withdraw a day from their weekly schedule, most schools must lengthen the school hours of the remaining four days. This can add up to two hours every day or 10 to 15 minutes for each time of teaching. This increase could be difficult for young students, who generally have a shorter duration of attention, as well as for students who are neurodivergent or who have other learning difficulties. Although this can be thwarted with more breaks throughout the day, there is a problem that must be taken into account.
No positive effect proven on learning
Studies on the effects of four -day school weeks on the performance of learners have mixed results, most of them finding small improvements or even negative effects. It is important to note, however, that the lowest scores are observed in schools that work for less than 30 hours per week. There was no negative impact on schools operating for 32 hours or more. Another study revealed that the success of the students developed more slowly in schools with weeks of four days compared to those which have weeks of five days.
Considerations for the future
If we conclude the results of the various surveys carried out in recent years on the impact and efficiency of four -day school weeks, we will notice that there is no clear consensus. Although there is a positive correlation with teachers ‘retention and student satisfaction, data does not reveal a significant impact on cost savings and students' performance. This school model may require additional refinement and regulation to be effective in the majority of schools.
However, this seems to work fairly well in rural areas. Survey data have shown that 84% of parents and 95% of students in school districts with shorter weeks would prefer to maintain this calendar instead of returning to a traditional five -day week. The efficiency of this initiative in these fields suggests that additional support from the community is essential for a four -day school week to succeed. This might involve changing parents' work schedules or providing support to child care. Overall, this movement is gaining ground worldwide, with countries such as the United States, France, Iceland and Japan by implementing in certain districts. Make sure you carefully examine the advantages and disadvantages of a shorter school week and make the necessary adjustments to meet the needs of students and staff.
