Four-Day School Weeks Correlated with Higher Juvenile Crime

Four-day school weeks could lead to higher rates of juvenile crime, according to a study published in the journal Economics of Education Review. Data show the model could increase crime by as much as 20%. This paper documents the short-term causal effect of school attendance on youth crime. To estimate this relationship, this study exploits the adoption of the four-day school week policy –a long-lasting schedule change – across schools within the jurisdiction of rural law enforcement agencies in Colorado over the period 1997–2014. As a result of policy adoption, on average juvenile crimes increase. The findings are particularly strong for property crime. Juvenile crime appears to increase in non-school locations and decline at school on Friday, the day treated students are off from school, suggesting incapacitation as a mechanism.

Fischer, S., & Argyle, D. (2018). Juvenile crime and the four-day school week. Economics of Education Review, 64, 31-39. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2018.03.010