As a growing number of schools across Montana ponder moving to a four-day school week, a researcher at Montana State University and her colleagues are examining the impacts of such a change on children.

Among other topics, MSU’s Emily Tomayko and her collaborators have examined questions related to the impact of a four-day school week on adolescent health behaviors; physical education and obesity; and food security. They have also researched early elementary achievement and high school achievement in the four-day model. Tomayko said she is particularly interested in continuing research on the health and wellness impacts of four-day school weeks on children.