Four-day school weeks are the norm in many parts of Colorado. But do they set up students for failure?

Since the 1980s, a growing number of Colorado school districts have adopted a four-day schedule. Currently, about one in seven K-12 public school students in Colorado attends class four days a week rather than five – primarily those in smaller, rural school districts. These districts often have smaller budgets than schools along the Front Range and in mountain towns. And researchers say the four-day schedule is often used as an incentive to attract and retain teachers when the district can’t offer a more competitive salary.  

But a new report from the Keystone Policy Center says the four-day school week may have negative impacts on student achievement. On top of that, it doesn’t appear to be effective in the goal of recruiting and keeping teachers. 

Keystone senior policy director Van Schoales helped research and write the report, titled “Doing Less with Less.” He spoke with host Erin O’Toole about what they learned – and what they recommend for districts considering this in the future. 

Keystone Policy Center, in conjunction with The Colorado Sun, created an interactive data map to accompany the report. 

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Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole
Producer: Ariel Lavery
Executive Producer: Brad Turner

Theme music by Robbie Reverb
Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.