Document Type

Report

Publication Date

11-29-2023

Series Title

Arkansas Education Report

Series Number

Volume 20, Issue 8

Keywords

Four-Day School Weeks; Year-Round Calendars; Student Achievement; Academic Growth; Attendance

Abstract

In 2021, Arkansas's state legislature passed Act 688 allowing school districts to adopt non-traditional calendars. Districts could choose from four calendar options: traditional, four-day school weeks (4DSW), year-round calendar(YRC), and alternative. During the 2022-23 school year, 33 districts adopted new calendars; twenty-seven districts operated using a 4DSW, and six used a YRC. Several more districts adopted 4DSW in the 2023-24 school year. Atpresent, thirty-four Arkansas districts use a 4DSW. This report used publicly available data from the Arkansas Department of Education to explore the relationship between adoption of a 4DSW or YRC and the following student outcomes: academic growth, academic achievement, and absenteeism. Using a quantitative analysis of multiple cohorts, the study found positive, and statistically significant results in student value-added growth in literacy for districts that adopted a 4DSW. Outside of this result, there were no discernable positive or negative effects for districts that adopted a 4DSW. Districts that adopted YRC, however, experienced more negative and statistically significant results. The findings underscore the complexity of non-traditional calendar adoption and the need for further research, particularly exploring individual district implementation strategies.

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