Hallie E. Ford Center
We conduct comprehensive analyses of four-day school week policy adoption and implementation to understand the impacts on children and families.
Our efforts will inform decision makers, help leaders solve problems, and promote positive change in our communities.
Four-day school weeks are used in over 1,600 schools across 24 states, but little is known about adoption and implementation of these types of school calendars. Most research to date has focused on the cost effectiveness and impacts on academic achievement, with considerable less attention to impacts on child and family health and well-being. To learn more about FDSW models in general, explore the Conference of State Legislatures website. To learn more about what we are doing at Oregon State University, explore the links to our research and publications below.
Research publications by HEAL Core faculty and their students related to Four-Day School Weeks.
Thompson, P.N., Tomayko, E.J., Gunter, K., Schuna, J.M. (2022). Impacts of the four-day school week on high school achievement and educational engagement. Education Economics. 1-13 10.1080/09645292.2021.2006610
Thompson PN, Ward J. (2022). Only a matter of time? The role of time in school on four-day school week achievement impacts. Economics of Education Review. 86:102198 10.1080/09645292.2021.2006610
Tomayko EJ, Thompson PN, Smith MC, Gunter KB, Schuna Jr. JM. (2021) Impact of reduced school exposure on adolescent health behaviors and food security: evidence from 4-day school weeks. J Sch Health. 91: 1055-1063. DOI: 10.1111/josh.13095/p>
Thompson, P.N. (2021). Is four less than five? Effects of four-day school weeks on student achievement in Oregon. Journal of Public Economics. 193, 104308. 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104308
Thompson, P.N., Schuna, J.M., Gunter, K., Tomayko, E.J. (2020). "Are All Four-Day School Weeks Created Equal? A National Assessment of Four-Day School Week Policy Adoption and Implementation". Education Finance and Policy 0 0:ja, 1-50 10.1162/edfp_a_00316
Tomayko, Emily J.., Gunter, Katherine B.., Schuna, John M.., & Thompson, Paul N.., (2020). "Effects of Four-Day School Weeks on Physical Education Exposure and Childhood Obesity". Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 10.1123/jpah.2019-0648.
Effects of Four-Day School Weeks on Student Achievement and Child and Family Wellbeing
Agency: Spencer Foundation
Team: Paul Thompson, PI, Kathy Gunter, Co-I, and John Schuna, Co-I, (OSU), Emily Tomayko, Co-PI (Montana State University), and Jason Ward, Co-PI (Rand Corporation)
Award Period: 2021-2023
Evaluating the effects of four day school weeks on child and family health, wellbeing, and socioeconomic factors
Agency: NIH, NICHD
Team: Paul Thompson, Co-PI, Kathy Gunter, Co-I, and John Schuna, Co-I, (OSU), Emily Tomayko, PI (Montana State University)
Award Period: 2021-2023
Professor and Extension Specialist
Kinesiology, Extension Family & Community Health
Oregon State University
Madeleine C. Smith,
Paul Thompson, Advisor, College of Liberal Arts
Honor’s Thesis
"Attachment to Place Among Teenage Students in School Districts With Four-Day School Weeks"