Jireh Swift Elementary School

Homework Policy

The responsibility of the school district to educate the student is carried out by the teachers through effective

classroom instruction and the careful delegation of independent study. It is important for the student to be taught the concepts related to the content area and how to study in school before he/she is given assignments to complete at home. There is, therefore, a progressive increase in the amount of homework expected of students from the elementary grades through high school.

Purposeful homework benefits students. Homework should be an extension of the class lesson, be clearly understood by students, be well planned and meaningful. Homework can be evaluated in multiple ways through review, classroom or small group discussion, and/or direct assessment. Completion of homework will count towards students’ cumulative grade for the content area.

The immediate purpose of a specific homework assignment may be to:

1. Strengthen basic skills
2. Extend classroom learning
3. Stimulate and further interests
4. Reinforce independent study skills
5. Develop initiative, responsibility, and self-direction/reflection
6. Stimulate use of leisure time that increases understanding and love of learning
7. Acquaint parents with the content/concepts studied in school

Homework assignments shall be planned in accordance with the following principles:

1. If homework is to have value, its purpose and relation to what has been learned in the classroom must be clearly understood by the student.
2. Students should understand not only what to do, but also how to do it.
3. Homework should grow from classroom discussions, problems, projects, and concerns.
4. The student’s age, need for play time, and out-of-school responsibilities must be considered when deciding upon length of any assignment. The student must bear responsibility for managing his/her time in a way that homework can be completed and submitted on time.
5. Assignments should make use of a variety of skills and prior knowledge.
6. Every homework assignment must be properly corrected and/or evaluated in keeping with the purpose of the assignment. To the extent possible, such corrections/evaluations shall be shared with the students involved in a timely fashion.
7. When a student’s grade or learning expectation are being adversely affected by poor homework performance or non-completion of assignments, the teacher shall communicate orally, or in writing, in a timely fashion with parents/guardians concerning the problem.
8. All homework assigned will be reflected in the child’s cumulative grade or learning expectation at the end of the term.

The School Committee encourages the administration to assist teachers in planning homework assignments in keeping with the above guidelines. Additionally:

1. The Committee expects that Principals (or directors/instructional supervisors where appropriate) will monitor the implementation of this homework policy through various approaches such as review of lesson plans, observation of classes, conferences with teachers, examination of student papers and/or other related activities.
2. The Committee expects that each content Director will clearly define the homework policy of his/her department. All such departmental policies must keep with this School Committee homework policy.
3. The Committee expects parents to provide a suitable place for students to do their homework and to monitor their children by questioning them upon the completion of their assignments.

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