Missouri adopts 4-day school week to tackle teacher shortage

Nearly 900 school districts across 26 states are transitioning to, or are already using, a four-day schedule in order to tackle teacher shortages.

A shift to this kind of flex schedule has been prevalent in rural areas, but the trend is now expanding.

“We are taking a very different approach, this was not about saving money — it’s actually going to cost more — this was about recruiting and retaining the very best staff,” said Dr. Dale Herl, superintendent of the Independence, Missouri, school district.