Four-Day School Week Conference

Four-Day School Weeks

What do we know and where are we going?

A closer look at cutting edge research and practice and envisioning the future of the four-day school week

October 20-21, 2023

Corvallis, OR (w/ virtual option)

A two-day conference (October 20-21, 2023) was convened in Corvallis, OR (and virtually) about the cutting-edge research and practice around the four-day school week school schedule. This conference was sponsored by Oregon State University and the Spencer Foundation. Day 1 of the conference featured research presentations around the effects of the four-day school week on school district, student, and family outcomes. Day 1 also featured discussions of panelists of four-day school week superintendents sharing their unique four- day school week experiences and innovative practice around four-day school week implementation. Day 2 of the conference featured small group breakout sessions discussing what practitioners need from researchers around the four-day school week impacts and brainstorming a list of best practices in four-day school week implementation.

Conference Agenda (videos included)

Agenda (presentation slides)


Friday, October 20

8:00am: Day 1 Registration (coffee and light refreshments will be provided)


8:45-8:50 Welcome by Catherine Bolzendahl, Director - School of Public Policy, Oregon State University

Location: Construction and Engineering Hall


8:50-9:00 Introductory Remarks by Paul Thompson, Oregon State University (video)

Location: Construction and Engineering Hall


9:00-10:40 Session 1:  Four-Day School Week Adoption and Benefits for School Districts (video)

Moderator: Paul Thompson, Oregon State University

Location: Construction and Engineering Hall

• National Four-day School Week Adoption Trends 

• Research Overview on Cost Savings and Teacher Retention

• Panel Discussion: Stories of Four-Day School Week Adoption


10:40-10:50 Break


10:50-12:20 Session 2:  Four-Day School Week Achievement Impacts (video)

Location: Construction and Engineering Hall

Moderator: Kathy Gunter, Oregon State University

• Emily Morton, CALDER at the American Institutes of Research

• Rebecca Kilburn, University of New Mexico

• Paul Thompson, Oregon State University


12:20-1:50 Lunch Poster Session (posters)

Location: Giustina Gallery (w/ catered lunch from Oregon State University)

Theme 1: Four-day school week adoption

• J. Cameron Anglum, St. Louis University 

• Kathryn Barnes, University of Arkansas 

Theme 2: Teacher and academic achievement impacts

• Andrew Barber, Santa Cruz University 

• Frank Perrone, Indiana University

• Tim Tharp, Richland County Schools

Theme 3: Non-achievement impacts

• Michael Bennett, Oregon State University

• Whitney Israel, University of California-Los Angeles

• Christine Mulitauopele, University of Colorado-Denver

• Rafiuddin Najam, Oregon State University


1:50-3:20 Session 3:  Four-Day School Week Non-Achievement Impacts (video)

Location: Construction and Engineering Hall

Moderator: John Schuna, Oregon State University

• Emily Tomayko, Montana State University

• Jon Turner, Missouri State University

• Rebecca Kilburn, University of New Mexico


3:20-3:30 Break


3:30-5:00 Session 4:  Four-Day School Week Implementation Strategies (video)

Location: Construction and Engineering Hall

Moderator: Emily Tomayko, Oregon State University

• National Survey of Implementation Strategies

• Panel Discussion: Stories of Four-day School Week Implementation


5:00-5:15 Day 1 Wrap-up by Paul Thompson

Location: Construction and Engineering Hall


5:15-7:15 Reception

Location: Giustina Gallery (light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided from Oregon State University)

***Participants are free to make their own dinner arrangements***


Saturday, October 21

8:00am: Day 2 Registration (coffee and light refreshments will be provided)


8:45-9:00 Introductory Remarks by Paul Thompson, Oregon State University

Location: Construction and Engineering Hall


9:00-10:20 Breakout Session #1:  What do four-day school week stakeholders need from researchers?

Locations: Construction and Engineering Hall; Agriculture Meeting Rooms; Wells Fargo Bank Room; Giustina Gallery


10:20-10:40 Break


10:40-12:00 Breakout Session #2:  Best practices in four-day school week use

Locations: Construction and Engineering Hall; Agriculture Meeting Rooms; Wells Fargo Bank Room; Giustina Gallery



12:00-12:15 Break


12:15-1:45 Lunch Session 

Location: Giustina Gallery (w/ catered lunch from Oregon State University)

• Wrap up and Q&A 


List of Presenters