Jody Fortino

The independent school district, located in a Kansas City suburb, adopted the shorter week two years ago to attract more teachers amid a statewide shortage.

But a new Missouri law requires that larger school districts get voter approval by the next school year to start or continue a four-day week.

About a third of the state's school districts are participating in a four-day week as they navigate how to keep educators while struggling with limited resources to raise salaries.

Most of the school districts on the shorter week are small and located in rural areas, but the one in Independence may push more suburban schools to consider changing their schedule.

For NPR News, I'm Jody Furtino in Kansas City.