Interviews & Presentations

Dr Paul Thompson, Oregon State University---Four-Day Week Impact on Academics with Dr. Gregg Klinginsmith of Warren County Schools, Dr. Mike Henry of Marshfield Schools, and Dr. Jon Turner from Missouri State University.  November 29, 2023.  

Link to Dr. Thompson's Four-Day School Week Research Website https://health.oregonstate.edu/hallie-ford/heal/policy/four-day-school-week 

Dr. Emily Morton, American Institute of Research--Four-Day Week Research Summary with Dr. Sarah Wisdom of New Bloomfield Schools, Dr. Sandy Stegall of Clinton County Schools, and Dr. Jon Turner from Missouri State University.  November 2, 2023. 

Dr. Emily Tomayko from Montana State University--The Health Impacts of the Four-day School Week.  With Dr. Allison Murphy-Pope from Hurley Schools, Dr. Dustin Storm from Miller Schools, and Dr. Jon Turner from Missouri State University. December 7, 2023.

In the News

"Four-day school weeks are increasing across Iowa," Talk of Iowa, Iowa Public Radio (August 22, 2025). Dr. Turner joins parents, superintendents, and researchers to discuss the rapid growth of the four-day school week across Iowa and the Midwest. https://www.iowapublicradio.org/podcast/talk-of-iowa/2025-08-22/four-day-school-weeks-are-increasing-across-iowa 

"Pass or fail? Midwest families and districts are learning from the 4-day school week," Iowa Public Radio (August 26, 2025). A look at the trade-offs of a four-day school week for students, families, and districts across the Midwest. https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2025-08-26/pass-or-fail-midwest-families-and-districts-are-learning-from-the-4-day-school-week

"Do 4-Day School Weeks Attract and Retain Better Teachers? What the Largest Study Yet Says," Education Week (January 2026). https://www.edweek.org/leadership/do-4-day-school-weeks-attract-and-retain-better-teachers-what-the-largest-study-yet-says/2026/01

"Districts, states grapple with 4-day school week," K-12 Dive (April 2026). https://www.k12dive.com/news/districts-states-grapple-with-4-day-school-week/816853/

"4-day school weeks are growing in popularity, despite a lack of data on the effects," Stateline (December 2025). https://stateline.org/2025/12/01/4-day-school-weeks-are-growing-in-popularity-despite-a-lack-of-data-on-the-effects/

"More school districts count on a 4-day week to attract and retain teachers," NPR (October 2025). https://www.npr.org/2025/10/21/nx-s1-5545937/more-school-districts-count-on-a-4-day-school-week-to-attract-and-retain-teachers

"Missouri voters approve four-day school week in two districts, showing rising support," Missouri Independent (November 2025). https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/05/missouri-voters-approve-four-day-school-week-in-two-districts-showing-rising-support/

"Independence can keep its four-day school week after voters approve," KCUR (November 2025). https://www.kcur.org/education/2025-11-04/independence-can-keep-its-four-day-school-week-after-voters-approve-shorter-schedule

"Beloved by K-12 Leaders, the Four-Day School Week Fails to Deliver, Study Finds," The 74 (June 2025). https://www.the74million.org/article/k-12-leaders-love-the-four-day-school-week-but-a-new-study-shows-that-it-doesnt-do-what-they-hope/

"More Rural School Districts Turn to Four-Day Week," The Daily Yonder (October 2025). https://dailyyonder.com/more-rural-school-districts-turn-to-four-day-week/2025/10/15/

"4-day school weeks are spreading. These Montana parents tried to stop it," Chalkbeat (May 2025). https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/05/21/four-day-school-weeks-expand-these-montana-parents-tried-to-stop-it/

"Will Independence keep its 4-day school week? Lawsuit and public vote could decide," KCUR (August 2025). https://www.kcur.org/education/2025-08-21/independence-school-district-4-day-week-lawsuit-vote-ballot-language