Homework, work that is assigned during class to be done outside the regular class meeting time (at home during off-class time or at some other location and time), is an integral part of the educational program. Homework should be meaningful and relevant both to the class work and to the student. It should help the student develop useful skills and gain increased insight into class work. All homework should contribute directly as well as indirectly to the student's performance evaluation. Although regular homework requires self-discipline and individual commitment on the part of the student, the best results occur when homework is a collaborative effort between school, teachers, students, and parents. Yet it is recognized that some time in a student's out of school life must be devoted to physical, social, religious, and other activities. Homework is an educational tool, not a disciplinary measure.
A high school student can reasonably expect to complete an average of thirty minutes of homework per academic class for each credit received for the class during each week. For a five-credit class a student should receive approximately 150 minutes of homework per week; for a three-credit class, 90 minutes; etc. A student with five academic classes of five credits each will have an average of twelve and one-half hours of homework each week, or an average of two and one-half hours per day. Clearly some classes will have more than thirty minutes of homework per class/credit hour per week while others will have much less; the average of thirty minutes should apply. Because this is an average amount, some students should expect to have more homework than this amount while others will have less.
A student's responsibilities:
- To know what the assignment is before leaving the classroom.
- To make a written note of the assignment for later reference.
- To complete the assignment on time.
- To seek help when "stuck" on a problem or assignment.
- To do his/her own work.
- To use time wisely.
- To recognize that for some students some assignments will take more than the same assignment will take for other students.
A teacher's responsibilities:
- To make the assignment clear.
- To show the relevance of the assignment to the class work.
- To be available to help students with assignment problems.
- To collect, grade (or in some form check or evaluate), and return the assignment quickly.
- To use homework as part of the student's final evaluation.
- To focus Monday through Thursday assignments on short-term goals while reserving Friday and weekend assignments for longer term goals.
- To be aware of the recommended time limits for homework.
- To recognize that for some students some assignments will take more time than the same assignment will take for other students.
- To be aware that students have activities outside of school which provide valuable and necessary life lessons for them.
- To use homework to reinforce and practice, to expand and extend, to create and apply, to prepare and gain background, etc., but not to teach anew.
- To be sensitive to the unique factors inherent in group assignments.
A parent's responsibilities:
- To provide a place for a student to do his/her homework.
- To monitor that homework is done.
- To organize activities (social, athletic, occupational, etc.) so that they do not interfere with the completion of homework.
- To recognize that for some students some assignments will take more time than the same assignment will take for other students.
- To know that a student always has homework--sometimes formal assignments; sometimes less and practice work; sometimes material to read; sometimes getting ready for a test; and sometimes general study and review of the material presented in a class.
A school's responsibilities:
- To provide quiet study areas for students to use to do homework during the school day.
- To provide an area for teachers to work individually with students.
- To provide access to necessary facilities and equipment (library, laboratories, etc.).