Is Four Less Than Five? Effects of Four-Day School Weeks on Achievement Across Student Subgroups
Year: 2019
Type: conference-paper
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: In recent years, there has been a growing trend of school districts switching to a four-day week schedule as a way to potentially cut costs.This study considers the implications these policies have on student achievement.I conduct a difference-in-differences analysis using a panel data set of student-level test scores to examine the effects of four-day school weeks on student achievement in Oregon.I generally find that student achievement declines following the switch to a four-day school week.These declines are most prevalent for African American and low-income students, exacerbating pre-existing achievement gaps in these districts.I also find that girls have lower reductions in their achievement due to the switch to a four-day school week compared to boys.
DOI: 10.3102/1431271
Author: Paul Thompson
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4292745715