What Savings Are Produced by Moving to a Four-Day School Week?

Due to the current economic downturn, policymakers have been looking for budgetary options that allow for reductions in expenditures without impacting student achievement. One cost-cutting policy that some states and districts have adopted is to keep instructional time the same but shorten the school week. A recent policy brief from the Education Commission of the States (ECS) found that approximately 120 districts in 17 states have made the move to a four-day school week. But the question still exists--what cost savings, if any, are produced? This report shows what savings a district might realistically expect to realize when moving to a four-day week. A bibliography is included.