Next week’s meeting of the State Board of Education will see education leaders discussing an increasingly hot topic – a four-day school week. The idea has picked up traction as a result of the ever-increasing price of gasoline and other rising costs. But it won’t be easy to change the status quo.

Jim Morris with the State Department of Education says any change to the traditional school week in any of the state’s districts would have to begin with changes to state law – and those changes would have to be made by the General Assembly.

Morris points out current law requires each school district to have a schedule of at least 174 days and at least 1,044 hours. Another section of law states a standard month of school consists of four five-day weeks.

Morris does not expect the Board to take any position on the idea when members meet in Jefferson City on August 7th and 8th.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)