School districts that adopted a four-day school week in rural Idaho experienced no significant cost savings, and some districts even saw costs rise to accommodate the resulting longer school day, according to a new report.
The Rural Opportunities Consortium of Idaho interviewed officials in more than 20 districts that have switched to a shorter week, some of which hoped to save money.
Researchers found that because most employee salaries are fixed, districts did not save money on personnel. Schools spent more money on enrichment activities and snacks for students spending longer days in school.
However, some districts saw benefits from using the extra day to offer enrichment or college visits for students or training for teachers.
