Four-day classes a week are becoming more common. How effective? : Planet Money : NPR

The move comes as many school districts around the country are making major changes to how public education is normally run. Faced with teacher shortages and difficulty filling open positions, they are turning to a new recruiting tool: a four-day week.

These districts are telling teachers, “You can always have a three-day weekend, and we’re not cutting pay.” As of this fall, about 900 school districts, or about 7% of all school districts in the U.S., were operating only four days a week.

This isn’t the first time many schools have shortened the school day to four days, so a lot of data is needed to understand how well it works.

In this episode, teachers love the four-day week and even parents love it. But is it good for students?

This episode was produced by Sam Yellowhorse Kesler, with assistance from Willa Rubin. Molly Messick edited and Maggie Luthar designed it. Sierra Juarez fact-checked it. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.

Subscribe to Planet Money+ to help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes In Apple Podcasts or plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

These links are always free: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, NPR One Or wherever you get your podcasts.

Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / Tik Tok / We Weekly communication.

Music: Universal Productions Music – “Wrong Conclusion,” “Bossa Nova Dream,” and “Please Hold”