Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homework Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School board reviews draft homework policy, asks for family‑focused regulations
Summary
At a Sept. 15 work session the school board reviewed a draft homework policy (BP 6154) that would require regular homework in grades 4–12 and encourage homework in K–3; trustees asked administration to develop administrative regulations clarifying time expectations, family supports and differentiation by grade and course.
Miss Dillard, student discipline and policy specialist, presented a proposed homework policy at the Sept. 15 school board work session, saying, “Homework shall be assigned regularly in grades 4 through 12.” She added, “Homework shall be encouraged in grades K through 3.”
The draft grew from an earlier spring policy committee discussion and a summer survey of building principals and leadership teams. Dillard told trustees the policy had attracted substantial feedback and that much of that feedback would inform administrative regulation: “There was a lot of good suggestions that helped us refine this policy language,” she said.
Why it matters: trustees said the policy could affect equity, instructional rigor and family expectations. Board member Miss Julian asked, “Do you from your from your professional perspective, do you feel like this policy will still allow our educators to, promote an academic rigorous environment for students, so that we can help them if they if they choose to kind of go down that that route of academic rigor?” Dillard replied that some stakeholders voiced concern that reducing homework could lessen rigor, while others stressed homework can exacerbate inequities if students need home support.
Board discussion focused on three themes: the policy’s grade-level distinctions, how to involve families, and whether administrative regulation should set time limits. Board member Mister Dorn suggested combining redundant paragraphs and moving details to administrative regulation. Trustee Miss Carol Hubbard urged adding language about enlisting families’ support for activities like reading and referenced national guidance she had seen: “I did find the NEA, and PTA guidelines for 10 minute the 10 minute rule per grade,” she said, noting she would not make that a strict rule but considered it useful context.
Trustees also flagged specific items to land in the administrative regulation: time parameters and increasing student responsibility with age, differences for honors/AP classes, coordination of long‑term projects so students aren’t overloaded, and support for students who need help. Dillard noted the survey respondents were city principals and leadership teams and said administration would “cast a broader net” before finalizing regulations.
The board took no formal vote on the policy at the work session; members directed staff to draft the accompanying administrative regulation with the details discussed and to return the policy for a first reading. The policy will proceed as a first-reading packet item with the intent that administrative regulation will specify time guidance and family‑engagement language.
The board’s next step is for administration to prepare the administrative regulation and a redlined policy showing the edits requested by trustees, then present the draft back to the board for first reading.
