Record Number of Schools Going to Four-day School Week Model

This year, Missouri is starting off the school year with 141 K-12 public school districts holding classes four days a week, instead of the traditional five days; that's 20 more schools than last year.  According to assistant professor Jon Turner of Missouri State University in Springfield, this represents about 27% of all public schools and affects about 70,000 students. The concept of a 4-day school week model began around 2010 with small rural schools trying to recruit teachers at a competitive starting salary. It is now being used by larger school districts to not only recruit, but retain teachers. Turner said the trend started in northwest and southwest Missouri but now covers all parts of the state, except the bootheel.