A few pieces of data

• Schools in Arkansas saved $40,000 per year by going to a 4 day school week. And student achievement increased! (The School Administrator, March 1999)
• Challis Elementary School in Challis, Idaho reports (according to Bruce Bradberry
  that the four day week has worked very well. These are: (a) there has been a great deal of public support for the four –day-week, (b) some money is saved through utilities, custodial and lunchroom hours and transportation, (c) student absences were greatly reduced, and (d) student instructional time has increased ISAT results
• Economic Benefits in Orofino School District
  1. There are savings made particularly in small schools on transportation, heating
  and substitute teachers. For instance, Orofino School District in Idaho made the
  following savings. The district saved $143,700
  • Non-certified staff $ 72,500
  • Substitute pay $ 25,054
  • Benefits $ 21,101
  • Custodial/utilities $ 9,032
  • Maintenance $ 181
  • Transportation $ 11,448
  4
  • Food service $ 4,350
  • TOTAL $143,666
  2. Transportation and food services can be cut as much as 20%. According to Bear
  Lake School District in Idaho, savings will be made in a four-day week because
  • Heat will be reduced to a minimum on the day they do not have school, i.e.,
  Friday.
  • Twenty percent less fuel is used in buses
  • Buses will not be purchased and repaired as often
  • Bus drivers will be needed and paid 20% less
  • Custodians will be needed and paid 20% less
  • Classroom aides will be cut between .5 and I1 hour weekly
  • Cafeteria worker time will be cut 20% but no savings will be realized by the
  district, because cafeterias are self funding.
• Other advantages found in Idaho
• 
  Instructional Time
  1. There are longer instructional time blocks for students. Students spend an average
  of 7.5 hours a day on instructional time. If Monday is a holiday then classes will
  be held on Friday or vice versa. Students do not loose instructional time.
  2. Teachers have more time to collaborate.
  3. There is a marked decrease in the frequency of teacher and student absenteeism.
  4. The fifth day can be used to attend to personal appointments, quality staff
  development, and sports schedules such as football games, and for special events
  such as field trips and homecoming and therefore there is no loss on instruction
  time due to conflicting schedules.
  5. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is no difference in academic performance
  between students in a four-day week and a five-day week.
  6. In rural schools, the model allows schools to keep art, music and other classes that
  would normally be eliminated where budgets cuts are experienced.
  7. Four day-weeks generally improve student morale as students are left with time to
  pursue their own interests outside the school.
  8. Decrease in disciplinary infractions.
  9. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is no difference in academic performance
  between students in a four-day week and a five-day week.

I'm finding that there isn't much in the way of actual data is there???