U.S. States Tighten Regulations on Four-Day School Weeks

A new Indiana law that took effect on July 1 requires any district that wants a four‑day schedule to keep an A rating from the state education department, provide enrichment and remediation programs on off‑days, and meet a minimum teacher salary of $45,000 annually. Schools must prove compliance each year to retain the shortened week.

Other states are moving similarly. North Dakota’s education department has proposed stricter criteria focused on instructional innovation and student achievement. Missouri now mandates local elections before adopting four‑day weeks and offers extra funding to districts that stay on five‑day schedules. Louisiana is considering a bill that would require five‑day weeks for schools that fail to achieve an A rating.

Adoption of four‑day weeks continues to grow, with more than 2,100 schools in 26 states using the schedule for the 2024‑25 year, up from about 1,600 six years earlier. Districts, especially in rural areas, cite budget constraints and teacher shortages as reasons for the change, though research shows limited cost savings and no significant difference in academic outcomes when total instructional hours remain the same.