As interest in 4-day school weeks grows, more states are enacting laws or considering other measures that limit when schools can shift to the abbreviated schedule. Most recently, an Indiana law took effect on July 1 that requires schools to meet new criteria before they can apply and be approved for a 4-day week waiver. Among those conditions: Schools must maintain an A rating with the state education department, provide enrichment and remediation opportunities for students when classes aren’t in session, and meet the state’s minimum teacher salary of $45,000 annually. The idea is that requiring schools to prove strong academic performance offsets the potential risks of lowering the number of days students are in class. School districts in recent years have turned to 4-day weeks as they battle shrinking budgets. Nationally, more than 2,100 schools in 26 states use 4-day schedules, with more considering the transition.
