Texas lawmakers are examining whether shorter school calendars affect student learning, a debate that could reach Prosper ISD and Celina ISD even though both districts operate five-day school weeks.

At a Senate Education Committee hearing Tuesday, Oct. 6, Education Commissioner Mike Morath cited a Texas Education Agency analysis associating four-day schedules with 6% to 8% lower grade-level proficiency in reading and math, according to Texas Scorecard’s hearing report.

The analysis compared similar campuses. Morath said Texas campuses average 169 instructional days annually, with about 15% providing fewer than 165. More than 200 districts use four-day or hybrid schedules.

Committee Chair Sen. Donna Campbell questioned whether four-day weeks benefit students. Lawmakers also discussed restoring a 180-day minimum, according to Community Impact’s coverage of the hearing.

A five-day schedule does not necessarily provide 180 instructional days. Celina ISD’s current 2026-27 calendar contains 172 scheduled student days, excluding two days reserved for emergency makeups.

A statewide 180-day requirement could therefore require calendar changes in districts that already hold classes five days a week. Its effect would depend on the legislation’s final language, effective date and any exceptions. An annual day-count requirement would also be distinct from a requirement to hold classes five days each week.

Witnesses described tradeoffs in shortened schedules. Emily Morton, director of research consulting at NWEA, said four-day districts average about 16 fewer school days. Longer days can satisfy the state’s 75,600-minute requirement, but those minutes can include recess and other non-instructional time.

Morton cited research showing roughly a three-percentage-point improvement in teacher retention. She recommended monitoring instructional time and academic outcomes rather than requiring every district to return to five-day weeks.

Natalia ISD Superintendent Elmer Avellaneda said his district adopted four-day weeks in 2022 to address staffing problems. Those challenges continued, and its academic rating declined to an F in 2025. Natalia returned to five-day weeks for 2026-27.

The hearing did not change school calendar requirements. Lawmakers will consider any legislation during the 90th regular session, which begins Jan. 12 and ends May 31, 2027, according to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s legislative overview.