Statewide Iowa — A handful of public school districts in Iowa are holding classes four days a week and educators say other districts are considering the idea. Chris Coffelt is superintendent of the Central Decatur Community School District, based in Leon, AND the Lamoni Community Schools.
Advocates of the move say it reduces student absences and gives teachers more time to plan and collaborate with other teachers.
The Cardinal Community School District in Eldon switched last November to holding classes Tuesdays through Fridays and Murray Community Schools made the move this fall. A decade ago, WACO Community School District in Wayland was the first Iowa district to shift to a four day school week. Mormon Trail in Humeston and Moulton-Udell have also switched to four day weeks. About 90 percent of the US schools now holding classes just four days a week are in rural areas and the other 10 percent are suburban or urban settings. Brad Buck is superintendent of Waukee Community Schools, Iowa’s fastest growing school district, and he says they’ve had informal conversations about a four-day school week.
Buck and Coffelt made their comments earlier this month on “Iowa Press” on Iowa PBS.
