Four-day school week gets community nod in Missouri’s largest districts: What the vote means for students and teachers

Two Missouri school districts, Independence and Hallsville, have officially won community approval to continue their four-day school weeks, becoming the first large districts in the state to do so under a new law requiring voter consent.The outcome reflects a growing shift in Missouri’s education landscape, where debates over learning time, teacher recruitment, and family schedules have taken center stage in recent years.

From local experiment to state oversight

When the Independence School District announced in 2023 that it would move to a four-day week, the decision drew a wave of concern from parents and lawmakers. Families questioned how they would handle child care on the extra day off, and state leaders began to consider tighter regulations.As reported by The Missouri Independent, the Missouri General Assembly responded in 2024 by passing a law requiring all non-rural districts to hold a public vote before adopting or continuing a four-day week.This week, Independence and Hallsville became the first large districts to put that rule to the test — and both received overwhelming approval from voters.

Hallsville voters show strong support

According to The Missouri Independent, the Boone County Clerk reported that about 25 percent of Hallsville’s registered voters participated in Tuesday’s election, and roughly 75 percent of them voted to keep the four-day schedule in place.

The decision authorises the shorter week for another ten years.“I knew most of our community supported it,” Superintendent Tyler Walker told The Missouri Independent, “but I was surprised by how big the margin was.”Walker added that the district’s improved performance on standardized tests and steady growth in academic outcomes have made families more confident in the new structure. “Our community has grown to appreciate the four-day week after living it for a few years,” he said.

State law limits who can make the switch

About one-third of Missouri’s school districts now operate on a four-day schedule, though most of them are rural, according to The Missouri Independent. Under the new law, districts located in or near major urban centers — including Jackson, Clay, St. Louis, Jefferson, and St. Charles counties — must secure voter approval before making the change.Todd Fuller, communications director for the Missouri State Teachers Association, told The Missouri Independent that the new requirement ensures families have time to assess how the system works before deciding.

“Anyone who’s a constituent of the district has had time to digest this process,” Fuller said. “When voters show support, it reflects what they’ve experienced firsthand.”While the association has not taken an official position, Fuller noted that most teachers have responded positively to the shorter week.

Teachers find more balance and planning time

Teachers in the Independence School District say the four-day schedule has given them greater flexibility to balance personal and professional demands.

Mondays off have become a time to plan lessons, attend appointments, and spend more time with family.“In the beginning, there was fear of the unknown for parents and teachers alike,” said Jorjana Pohlman, president of the Independence branch of the Missouri National Education Association, in an interview with The Missouri Independent. “But most teachers decided to give it a try, and now they see it as a good thing.”

A boost for teacher recruitment

A study cited by The Missouri Independent and conducted by Missouri State University found that the four-day schedule has become a major factor in teacher recruitment. Among applicants to Independence schools, 63 percent listed the shorter week as one of their top three reasons for applying, and 27 percent named it their top priority.On average, applicants said they would be willing to accept a pay cut of about $2,200 a year for the benefit of a four-day week.Hallsville Superintendent Tyler Walker said his district has experienced similar success, with an increase in veteran teachers applying for positions. “It has made us more competitive,” he said.

What comes next

With voter approval secured, both districts plan to continue monitoring the impact of the four-day week on student learning and teacher retention.Some had worried that returning to a five-day schedule could lead to teacher departures, but surveys cited by The Missouri Independent indicate that fewer educators would leave than initially expected.“The educators care deeply about their students,” Pohlman said. “Whether it is four days or five, that commitment is not going to change.”