Voters to decide fate of Independence's four-day school week
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Voters in Independence are deciding today whether to keep the district's four-day school week, a change made to help attract and keep teachers.
Why it matters: The results could determine whether other Kansas City-area districts explore four-day school weeks in the future.
The big picture: A Missouri law passed last year requires large districts, including the Independence School District (ISD), to get voter approval to adopt or keep a four-day week. Most smaller districts can make the change without a public vote.
- A yes vote would keep ISD's four-day week for 10 years.
Zoom in: ISD runs Tuesday through Friday, offering free "Fifth Day" child care and enrichment on Mondays to help working parents.
- The district serves roughly 14,000 students across 31 schools.
Stunning stat: After switching to a four-day week in 2023, a study found that ISD teacher applications rose 360%, with nearly a third of applicants citing the shorter week as a draw.
Zoom out: About one-third of Missouri's 518 school districts use a four-day calendar, but almost all are small and rural.
- Independence is the largest school district in the state to test whether the shorter week can work.
What they're saying: The ISD Board of Education is urging a yes vote, saying the four-day week has boosted teacher retention and student achievement.
- District leaders point to rising test scores, higher graduation readiness and a 10-point jump in annual performance ratings since the switch.
The other side: Mayor Quinton Lucas said he'd vote no if he lived in the district, citing concerns about lost learning time.
- A University of Oregon review of 11 empirical studies found that students who had a four-day school week experienced decreased math and reading achievements.
What's next: Polls are open until 7pm.