Developmentally appropriate, authentic and relevant homework can provide additional learning experiences for students. Homework should focus on:

• Practice of new learning and solidify concepts and understandings
• Pre-reading of new material to be introduced in class
• Reading for knowledge and pleasure

Homework is not appropriate for:

• Homework for the sake of homework
• To cover curriculum
• Discipline
• School holidays: no homework, projects, or assessments should be due in any class, including block classes meeting the day after return, immediately following any of the following holidays (exceptions apply to AP classes and exceptions with administrative approval):
  • Thanksgiving
  • Easter
  • Christmas
  • Spring Break
• Use in completing a textbook
• Evenings or weekends of school-sponsored events which affect a large segment of their students, such as tournaments, concerts, or other special activities as specifically designated by administration.

Examples of inappropriate homework practices include:

• Homework due the day it was assigned; homework should typically be due during class time.
• Homework assigned in the absence of classroom introduction or instruction; homework should be review of or preparation for classroom learning. Exceptions include AP courses.
• Homework that focuses on abundant repetition of a skill already mastered or a concept already understood.
• Homework that unduly emphasizes practice of a skill or concept unrelated to the learning objectives of a course.
• Weighting homework as more than 20% of a student’s final grade.

Purpose Homework is an instructional strategy and is best used as independent guided practice to inform learning. Homework should have different amounts and purposes at different grades. Elementary students should be given homework to

• Support development of time management and organizational skills
• Communicate with parents the skills and concepts being taught in class
• Practice skills and solidify concepts with timely teacher feedback
• Practice oral and silent reading for knowledge and pleasure

Middle and high school students should be given homework to:

• Improve achievement
• Extend the time available for both practice and investigative learning
• Help more mature students take charge of their own learning opportunities
• Provide feedback on learning practice
• Encourage independent reading for pleasure

Homework Principles

Based on an analysis of research studies, CHA supports the following principles:

• Homework assignments for students with individualized education plans (SSP) should be short and focused on reinforcement of skills and class lessons and should be within the specifications of the SSP.
• Monitoring of assignments for students is necessary for all and critical for those with individualized education plans (SSP) and/or an English language deficiency.
• Homework should involve parents' encouragement, oversight, and monitoring of study management by the students. Homework assignments should keep required parental involvement in the academic content to a minimum.
• Homework should be evaluated soon after completion for feedback purposes.

Required Independent Reading for K-5th Grades

Suggested Amounts

Keeping these considerations in mind, CHA suggests the following maximum average(1) student/grade-level amounts of focused homework outside of class with the recognition that a methodical student who needs more time may need to take a lighter load. Individual music lesson practice is not included in these academic totals. Teachers may provide optional extension opportunities for students who choose to work beyond these limits. These extension opportunities could be in the form of extension worksheets or links to relevant educational websites. These times do NOT include independent reading or read aloud. This is based on homework research studies (Harris 2006).

Notes

(1)“Average” means that most of the class can complete the work within the daily time parameters. The listing of an amount does not indicate that homework must be given but rather recognizes that students work at differing rates and quality levels. Larger assignments and projects are sometimes assigned with the understanding that students are given several days to complete it.

(2)“Per night” means outside of the actual class time period even if/when homework is started during class.

(3)Only in formal AP courses are we to be equivalent to beginning college courses and demands. In our other courses, CHA is preparing for college, not being a college.

*Homework amounts do not include independent reading (see above)