(The Lion) — A new Missouri law giving voters a say on whether local schools can use a four-day week faces a legal challenge as a key election deadline approaches.
Passed in 2024, the statute requires larger school districts – those in more populous counties or cities – to obtain voter approval before continuing a four-day instructional schedule.
Of Missouri’s 518 school districts, only 87 would need voter approval for a shortened school week, the Springfield News-Leader reported.
Without approval, affected districts must return to a traditional five-day week in the 2026-27 school year.
Independence’s fight
The Independence School District began a four-day week in 2023. It later sued the state, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Attorney General Andrew Bailey, seeking to overturn the law.
The district argued the legislature acted in an “arbitrary” manner. Bailey countered that the criteria were rational because the changes disproportionately affected urban and suburban parents, including the working poor, the News-Leader reported.
DESE studies show at-risk students are more affected by a four-day week and are more likely to live in towns, be special education students, English learners, foster children, or Hispanic or multiracial.
The court is expected to rule by the end of the month. Under state law, any ballot question seeking voter approval for the district’s current schedule must be certified by Aug. 26, the Examiner reported.
That deadline could stall the school board, which needs to approve both the ballot issue and the school calendar.
Independence officials said they plan to wait for the court’s decision before taking further action.
Voices stifled?
The law was passed in part after ISD officials angered community members who opposed the four-day week and said they were shut down at public meetings.
“I feel like we have a bit of a crisis on our hands. A crisis of relationships and of community trust,” one parent told the board.
CJ Fuemmeler, a retired principal, warned that as wealthier districts adopt four-day weeks, the incentive for teacher recruitment will diminish for districts like Independence, which are also losing instructional time.
“Many schools in mid-Missouri have gone to a four-day week as an incentive to obtain and retain teachers,” he said. “Obviously this incentive goes away as more schools with better pay go to four-day school weeks. I’ve got major concerns about losing 20% of prime learning time to an extended school day.”
Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said he plans to review not only the district’s finances but also the effectiveness of its education under the shortened schedule.
“Parents and taxpayers deserve to know how their tax dollars are being used by their schools,” he said.
The report could influence other districts as more adopt four-day weeks to cut costs after federal pandemic funding boosted staff and salaries in recent years.
Even if the law stands, 182 Missouri districts are expected to operate on a four-day week this year.
The civil suit was filed in Cole County. A bench trial was held July 30 before Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh, a former general counsel to Gov. Mike Parson who has been mentioned as a potential attorney general candidate.
