Types of Evidence

So far, the change has been positive, says superintendent Tim Bartram. “Our students are happier,” he says. “The mood is better.”

• fact

• statistic

• expert testimony

• example or anecdote

Having a three-day weekend every week may sound like a dream, but it’s a reality for students at more than 1,600 schools in 24 states. (TWO right answers!)

• number fact or statistic

• fact

• example

• expert testimony

A 2021 study by the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, found that the four-day schedule is popular with both parents and students in districts that use it. 

• expert testimony

• statistic

• example

• fact

A whopping 85 percent of teens in the 2021 RAND Corporation study said they “like it a lot.” 

• statistic

• example

• expert testimony

• fact

When electricity and gasoline prices skyrocketed in the 1970s, for example, several states shortened school weeks. (TWO right answers!)

• fact

• example or anecdote

• expert testimony

• statistic

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 60 percent of middle schoolers and 70 percent of high schoolers don’t get enough rest each night. (TWO right answers!)

• fact

• statistic

• expert testimony

• example

Of course, a day at school usually involves more than learning how to solve equations and write essays. There may also be physical education, electives like theater and robotics, face-to-face time with peers, and access to free meals. With one fewer day at school, students can miss out on these things…

• fact

• statistic

• expert testimony

• personal story

Between homework, dinner, and sleep, there may not be time for much else. That means it could be tough to squeeze in activities like basketball, music lessons, and martial arts on school days. (TWO right answers!)

• example

• expert testimony

• fact

• statistic

On average, students on four-day schedules spend 58 fewer hours in class each year than students on five-day schedules, according to the RAND study. 

• statistic

• example

• personal story

• fact

Most research shows students on four-day schedules don’t perform as well on standardized tests, according to Paul Thompson, a professor at Oregon State University, who studies this topic. “Being in front of a teacher in a classroom matters a lot,” he says.

• statistic

• example

• fact

• expert testimony