KELLOGG, Idaho — The Kellogg School District will continue its four-day school week for another year after administrators say they’ve seen improved mental health, higher attendance and better teacher retention during the first year with the new schedule.
The district adopted the shortened week to address ongoing retention and attendance struggles, joining a growing trend across Idaho where more than half of school districts now operate on four-day schedules.
“The four-day week has just been a bonus for us in our district,” said Dan Davidian, principal of Kellogg High School.
Superintendent Lance Pearson said the district wanted to change its approach to education after years of challenges.
“We felt like we wanted to slow down our entire process of education,” Pearson said.
The results have been measurable. The district says student attendance increased 5% during the first year, while teacher retention is up 50% compared to the previous year. Teachers say the atmosphere has improved significantly.
“I just know from a standpoint of working with people… we are in a much better place, and everyone is just a little bit happier,” Davidian said.
Kellogg joins other regional districts that have made the switch. Post Falls and West Bonner adopted four-day weeks two years ago, and the Idaho Department of Education reports 76 districts are projected to use the schedule next year — close to 70% of districts statewide.
However, administrators acknowledge they need more time to fully evaluate the program’s effectiveness.
“We really, with one year, just don’t have enough data to say, ‘well, it’s perfect,'” Davidian said.
While the district has seen immediate benefits in attendance and staff retention, the long-term impacts on student learning remain unclear. Some research suggests four-day weeks could negatively affect student achievement and academic growth.
Despite these concerns, the program has created what administrators describe as a less stressful environment with happier students and a more functional school community.
The change appears to have strong support within the district. Pearson believes the community has embraced the new schedule.
“Now that they’re in it, I don’t know if they’d ever go back,” he said.
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