Four-day school week : Independence and Hallsville, Missouri school districts, have formally received community permission to continue their four-day school weeks, becoming the state’s first large districts to do so under a new legislation requiring voter agreement.
The conclusion underscores a major shift in Missouri’s education scene, where disputes over learning time, teacher recruiting, and family schedules have dominated in recent years.
Four-day school week : From local experiment to state regulation
When the Independence School District announced in 2023 that it would switch to a four-day week, parents and lawmakers expressed alarm. Families questioned how they would handle child care on the extra day off, prompting state officials to propose tougher requirements.
According to The Missouri Independent, the Missouri General Assembly responded in 2024 by enacting legislation mandating all non-rural districts to hold a public vote before implementing or continuing a four-day week.
Independence and Hallsville became the first large districts to test that rule, and both got overwhelming voter support.
Hallsville voters demonstrate great support.
According to The Missouri Independent, the Boone County Clerk estimated that approximately 25% of Hallsville’s registered voters participated in Tuesday’s election, with roughly 75% voting to maintain the four-day timetable.
The judgment extends the shorter week for another ten years.
“I knew most of our community supported it,” Superintendent Tyler Walker told The Missouri Independent, “but I was surprised by how big the margin was.”
Walker also stated that the district’s increased standardized test performance and consistent growth in academic achievements had given families confidence in the new structure. “Our community has grown to appreciate the four-day week after living it for a few years,” he told reporters.
State legislation limits who can make the transfer.
According to The Missouri Independent, almost one-third of Missouri’s school districts currently operate on a four-day schedule, with the majority of them being rural. Under the new rule, districts in or near significant urban areas, including as Jackson, Clay, St. Louis, Jefferson, and St. Charles counties, must obtain voter permission before making a change.
Todd Fuller, communications director for the Missouri State Teachers Association, told The Missouri Independent that the new requirement allows families to analyze how the system works before making a decision. “Anyone who’s a constituent of the district has had time to digest this process,” Fuller said the audience. “When voters show support, it reflects what they’ve experienced firsthand.”
While the group has not issued an official statement, Fuller stated that most instructors have responded positively to the shorter workweek.
Teachers discover more balance and plan time.
Teachers in the Independence School District believe the four-day schedule allows them to better combine personal and professional responsibilities. Mondays off have been used to plan classes, attend appointments, and spend extra time with family.
“In the beginning, there was fear of the unknown for parents and teachers alike,” said Jorjana Pohlman, president of the Independence branch of the Missouri National Education Association, in an interview with The Missouri Independent. “But most teachers decided to give it a try, and now they see it as a good thing.”
A boost for teacher recruitment.
According to a study referenced by The Missouri Independent and done by Missouri State University, the four-day work week has become a significant issue in teacher recruiting. Among Independence school applicants, 63 percent cited the shorter week as one of their top three reasons for applying, with 27 percent making it their top priority.
On average, candidates stated that they would be willing to accept a $2,200 annual income cut in exchange for the advantage of a four-day work week.
Hallsville Superintendent Tyler Walker reported that his district has had comparable success, with an increase in veteran teachers applying for vacancies. “It has made us more competitive,” remarked the man.
What happens next
With voter support secured, both districts want to continue studying the effects of the four-day week on student learning and teacher retention.
Some were concerned that returning to a five-day schedule would result in teacher departures, however studies reported by The Missouri Independent show that fewer instructors would leave than projected.
“The educators care deeply about their students,” Pohlman stated. “Whether it is four days or five, that commitment is not going to change.”
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