Photo free to use under the Unsplash License.

The Case for the Four-Day School Week: 

Weighing the Pros, Cons, and Unintended Consequences

by Olivia Johnson

Fall 2025 Intern

 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are reevaluating the systems that we live our lives in and around. One such system—the typical five-day work week with a two-day weekend—has recently faced scrutiny as students and professionals are examining their work/life balance. The four-day work week offers more relaxation for a more condensed work week. What are the benefits of this system, and is it realistic to make the switch from five to four?

How Does a Four-Day Work Week Work?

Since the five-day work week has been the standard for so long, there isn’t one set definition of what alternative schedules could look like. Because of this, there’s a lot of variation across organizations that adopt nontraditional work schedules.

 Sometimes, a four-day work week means that the standard 40 hours of work per week is divided up over four days instead of five. Other schedules reduce the standard hours of work to accommodate for the shift while also providing the same benefits as the standard 40-hour work week. There’s a lot of room for variability with this schedule, which might work better for certain people and organizations.

Implementing a Four-Day Schedule into the Classroom

There’s already a lot that needs to be shifted when adults adopt a four-day work week. When it comes to the schedules of children, a lot of the scheduling challenges that need to be adapted rely on adults making those changes. For this reason, the four-day school week has been harder to adopt than in the workplace. However, that doesn’t mean that schools have never tried this schedule. A lot of research, especially in light of the pandemic, has investigated the impacts of the four-day week in classrooms. Here’s a breakdown of the pros, cons, and potential consequences.

 Pros:

Revitalizing the process and switching things up can make students more engaged in school. The pandemic taught us that what used to work might not benefit us in the present. Many students feel unsatisfied with traditional schooling, and providing an opportunity to work in a different format could benefit them.

 More hours outside the classroom = More time for rest and recharge is the primary argument that proponents of a four-day week make. Whether that be spending time with family, participating in recreational activities, or resting, students and educators can utilize the hours they gained from not being in school for activities they’re interested in. Regardless of what this time is spent on, these added hours can be extremely beneficial for participants of the four-day week and have been cited as the primary reason for switching.

 Recruiting talented educators is a key benefit for schools. With the current educator retention problem plaguing U.S. schools, adopting a four-day school week might encourage educators to move to a school with a four-day schedule.

Cons:

 Insignificant academic increase was noted across multiple studies. Taking into account the various reasons for students’ academic scores staying stagnant or decreasing, the four-day school week posed no potential benefits to students. However, it’s important to note that many studies only focus on the adoption period of a four-day school week, limiting the long-term data.

 Societal roadblocks were a big factor that impacted not only students, but their caregivers as well. Society is built around the five-day work week, which means that caregivers have to adapt their schedule or find childcare options. This added stress, cost, and change to routine had significant impacts on many students.

Additionally, the four-day school schedule meant that absences were more impactful. When school is only four days a week, every missed day means a student is further behind than they would be.

 Potential Consequences:

 Monetary impacts to both educators and schools is a significant factor in many discussions about adopting a four-day schedule. Reduced work hours for educators could expound on the current educator crisis by decreasing educators’ income. When educators are paid by the hour, the extra day of missed pay under a four-day school week could be a deterrent rather than a potential benefit.

 Many schools indicated that switching to a four-day school week would cut back on costs, particularly the cost of paying educators. While this makes extra funds available for more materials and programs for students, a salary decrease might push even more educators out of the school system.

 Impacts on extracurriculars is another big factor in the debate against the four-day school week. Many schools work together to organize athletic or cultural events between schools, and schools with a unique schedule could miss out on these opportunities due to their limited availability. Since the majority of schools are based on the five-day school and work week, it’s even harder for students under a four-day school week to engage in these activities.

Caregiving obligations are the major impediment to the widespread adoption of four-day school weeks. Whether due to work, school, or other obligations, caregivers have a lot on their plate already. 

 Adopting a schedule that upends the routine of caregivers isn’t just irritating; it could potentially impact schools’ retention rates. Caregivers might opt out of sending their students to a school with a four-day schedule, resulting in a reduced student population.

Alternative Work Week Schedules

Maybe we need to be more creative when it comes to our school and work schedules. There are many alternative schedules that are being tested around the world. For example, the three-day on, three-day off work schedule that many healthcare workers already have could be a viable alternative. This rotating schedule ignores weekends and instead rotates through a cycle of three days working and three days resting. However, the same arguments against the four-day work week apply, potentially to an even greater degree.

 Many schedules that work for adults are harder to implement across all school systems. To make alternative schedules work, the caregivers’ schedules need to align with the school’s so they’re more likely to follow it. Schools also need to figure out what works for them and their community, as variations across urban and rural areas can make the difference between an alternative schedule sticking or failing.

Publishing Solutions Group

This article offers a valuable, balanced analysis of the four-day school week, thoughtfully weighing its potential benefits against the practical challenges. We can all appreciate this nuanced approach to systemic change.

It confirms that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, but rather a set of trade-offs each community must carefully consider. We recognize both the promise for well-being and the significant logistical hurdles involved.

PSG is committed to staying abreast of this evolving conversation, monitoring new research and pilot programs. As the landscape of work and education continues to shift, we stand ready to support innovative models that are thoughtfully implemented and contextually grounded.