A growing trend in American education in which schools operate four days a week instead of five. As of late 2025 more than 2,100 schools had adopted the practice, and every state west of the Mississippi allowed it.
The four-day week began as a rural phenomenon, adopted to save money or attract teachers to remote areas. It has since spread to towns and cities—Independence, Missouri, with 14,000 pupils, is among the larger adopters.
Studies show students on a four-day week fall 2-7 weeks behind their peers on standardised tests. Educators report improved classroom atmosphere and fewer discipline problems, though broad surveys find morale is statistically no different from that at full-time schools.
Cost savings are minimal—no more than 2.5% of a school's budget. Teacher-retention improvements are cited locally but have not been confirmed by broader studies.
Critics worry about the effect on children in single-parent families who lose a day of supervised care. Despite this, parents and students overwhelmingly support the policy.
Slous' Contention: If you do a job too well, you'll get stuck with it.