Frequently Asked Questions

1. Would a 4-day week create a child care problem for our parents?

Current districts implementing a 4-day school week have not found this to be in issue. We currently operate on a calendar that includes 15 weeks that are not full due to early outs, teacher in-services and holidays.
So most parents are already dealing with this issue on a smaller scale.

However, we understand this is a primary concern for our constituents. We have identified that a need exists and we will be working to create a student group interested and available to assist with childcare for not just those days when school is not in session, but other days throughout the year as well.

2. Why would the Knox County R-I School District consider a 4-day school week calendar?

Retain and hire quality teachers.
Enhance the quality of instruction & student engagement.
Create a consistent school calendar with built in make-up days that stakeholders can plan for.
A four-day week provides flexibility in the event of weather-related school cancellation; make-up days would be made up earlier in the year when learning is most effective and before mandated state testing.
Secondary students would be able to work, job shadow, or take college visits on Mondays.

3. How would the 4-day school week impact the hiring and retaining of quality teachers?

We are competing with the likes of Kirksville and Macon for quality candidates. This may give us the ability to even the playing field and attract teachers and staff we could not attract or retain previously.

4. How would a 4-day school week impact student achievement?

Research indicates that student achievement has remained neutral or is inconclusive in the impact. New state exams were given this past spring and will be given this year as well. Data will be hard to determine as we begin new exams in 2019 revised for the Missouri Learning Standards.

Feedback from schools that we have personally interviewed indicate the same. They have not witnessed
have not witnessed a decrease in student achievement and most have experienced a slight increase in some areas initial. This was prior to the new exams given this past year. Most all believed student engagement had increased.

Staff attendance increases; therefore, instructional time may be more effective for students. Student attendance increases due to the availability on Mondays for appointments, etc. Therefore, instruction time is increased for students. Higher student attendance is directly related to higher student achievement.

5. How will the district make this decision and what is the timeline?

The district has formed a committee made up of staff from all buildings.
Parents and community members will be surveyed to allow for their input on the subject.
Students in grades 7-12 will be surveyed to obtain their input.
Employees of the district have been and will be surveyed to gather their input on the subject.
Administration will attempt to gather a consensus and make a recommendation to the Board by February.

6. What are additional possible benefits other than hiring and retaining quality staff?

Anticipated increase in student attendance rate. This schedule gives families more flexibility in scheduling vacations and appointments for students.
Districts have indicated that staff morale is higher due to the extra day away during the week. Although finding hard data is difficult, the districts report that their staff members feel more prepared and have more energy for class. Students are more engaged.
4 day schools have indicated that students seem to prefer the 4 day week as it allows more time for working at their jobs and many use the extra day to work on projects and prepare for classes.
This schedule would eliminate all early out days. No early released days at the end of the quarter.
The longer day is actually a benefit for many families that work on an 8:00-4:00/9:00-5:00 type of schedule. This student schedule would more closely align with those family schedules and reduce the time alone after school for some students.

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