Just last week, the question of four-day school weeks entered the conversation in Los Angeles, as LAUSD Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines has begun studying various proposals to make-up part of the expected budget shortfall of at least $500 million for the 2010-11 academic year. If implemented, the district would use a combination of furlough days and shortening the school year to close the gap, as furlough days alone will not be sufficient.