HOMEWORK POLICY

Homework is an important part of the educational process. To be effective it requires an integrated effort among teachers, parents, and students. Homework is used to practice learned skills, to develop independent study habits, and to provide a connection between home and school environments.

Assignment Guidelines

• Homework should be assigned to all students from kindergarten through grade five.
• There should be allowances for the teacher's discretion relative to the type and length of assignments.
• In order to build responsible study habits concrete assignments that require the student to return something to school should be given several times each week.
• Most homework should be credited, but not necessarily graded.
• Long range projects may be assigned as homework and assessed through the grading process. Teachers should check on the progress of long range projects on a regular basis.
• Homework should be meaningful and relate to work in the classroom. It should not be busy work.

Suggested Time Frames

The following are recommended as maximum nightly time limits on homework for each grade:

• Kindergarten 5 to 10 minutes
• Grade One 15 to 20 minutes
• Grade Two 30 minutes
• Grade Three 30 minutes
• Grade Four 60 minutes
• Grade Five 60 minutes

Parental Involvement 

Parents should be encouraged to give their children guidance with their homework efforts. This guidance might include:

• Checking the child's work for neatness and to see that it is completed.
• Signing the homework paper or an assignment book.
• Communicating regularly with the teacher.
• Agreeing to a homework contract with the child and the teacher.

*This policy is meant to build on the Manchester School District policy - not to replace it.