More than 200 school sites across 96 districts have reported going to a four-day week, according to the State Department of Education.

Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, said he was glad the committee believed that school calendars should be controlled at the local level.

“We have locally elected school board members that are tasked with making those decisions,” Hime said.

Many schools went to a four-day week to save money with state budget cuts over the last decade.

“They are looking for any way possible to be efficient,” Hime said. “What we would like to see is a long-term funding plan for education and improved funding for schools so they can add instructional time. We believe our students need more instructional time, but schools can’t offer the more instructional time without having the resources needed.”

Loveless said a similar measure is alive in the House.

A four-day week on a long-term basis is not beneficial to students, he said.