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Homework Policy

POLICY UNDER REVISION

Homework is an important extension of activities begun in school by students under the guidance of their teachers and continued at home. Working together, home and school can guide students as they develop their learning capacities by making possible experiences which foster learning.

Homework provides for practice of skills and application of principles based upon work begun in the classroom. It may enrich school experiences and promote a permanent interest in learning. A secondary goal of homework is to stimulate individual initiative, personal responsibility and self-direction.

Due to differences in age levels and modes of instruction between the elementary and secondary schools, homework expectations will necessarily differ.

Listed below are the responsibilities of teachers, students and parents with regard to homework.

Teachers:

• assign homework that is meaningful and useful to individuals
• provide appropriate and timely response to all homework assignments
• provide a balance between long- range and short- term assignments
• give assignments over weekends which are no longer than a daily assignment
• not assign homework during vacation periods and on legal and religious holidays
• monitor long- term assignments in order to avoid last minute student efforts
• give clear, concise directions; allow time for student questions; consider availability of materials; provide legible worksheets when used
• inform parents of their role in supervising homework
• ensure that students who are absent know how they may make-up homework
• monitor the effectiveness of homework as reflected in student performance

Students will:

• record the directions for homework
• ask questions when necessary to clarify the assignment
• follow a schedule and keep materials in order
• hand in, on time, neat, accurate, and meaningful products
• plan time for completion of long- term assignments
• determine and complete homework assigned during absence

Parents will:

• provide a suitable place for study
• help students develop routine home study habits
• ensure that absence does not interfere with makeup
• assist and correct but not do the actual work and notify the teacher if students experienced extreme difficulty
• assist students in making wise course and course level choices
• be aware of long- term assignments and assist students in learning to budget their time accordingly
• contact the teacher if he/ she observes an absence of homework

Because the time required of individuals to complete assignments varies, homework activities must, therefore, be planned to meet each student' s individual learning profile. Though it is impossible to predict the time necessary for all students to complete assignments because of different learning rates and age levels, the following is suggested:

At the Elementary Level

In addition, parents should continue to read to their children and enourage and support their children' s recreational reading.

Homework is generally assigned two to four times a week, generally Mondays to Thursdays. No homework will be given on legal and religious holidays or during vacations.

Please note:
Homework will not be provided to students prior to a family vacation.

Revised: 12/27/89
1/31/89
6/16/89
9/19/89

POLICY UNDER REVISION