IKB October 28.pdf (90 KB)

Boulder Valley School District File: IKB Adopted: Adopted prior to 1969 Revised: May 8, 2001, November __, 2025 HOMEWORK General The term "homework" refers to tasks assigned to students by teachers to be completed during non-school hours. When designed well by teachers and done carefully by students, it is an effective instructional activity that should have a positive effect on student achievement. Homework is not, however, a substitute for in-class instruction. In order to be beneficial to students, assigned tasks should be meaningful to purposes that can be served by independent work outside of class. These tasks vary with the grade level and are discussed in File IKB-R. In addition to supporting student learning, wWell-designed homework supports student learning and provides teachers with important feedback on student progress in achieving District standards. Homework is not a substitute for classroom instruction. The value of homework and its positive effects on student learning are not primarily a function of the amount of homework assigned. More is not better. Rather, the value of homework is a function of its quality, the appropriateness of assignments, their quality, and their relevance to classroom instruction. In designing homework policies, schools should focus their attention on these qualitative issues while ensureing that the actual amount of homework assigned considers the needs and demands of family life and the health wellbeing of students, including the impact of academic stress. District Expectations Regarding Homework 1. Homework is an instructional activity and should be planned as carefully as other instructional activities. Assigned tasks should be meaningful to purposes that can be served by independent work outside of class. It consists of quality assignments with clear learning objectives for students. 1. The assignment of homework at each grade level shall be appropriate to students’ development, the curriculum, and grade level standardsin accordance with District grade level guidelines. 2. Homework assignments will shall t It consists of quality assignments with clear learning objectives for students and take into consideration individual differences of students related to disability conditions, educational needs, English language Page 1 of 2

proficiencies, and/or specific abilities. School and ProgramBuilding Responsibilities Regarding Homework 1. Each school will develop specific written homework guidelines in accordance with this policy. These guidelines should encourage consistency among teachers at the same grade levels, within the same subject areas, or within the same programs (such as TechCareer and Technical Education, International Baccalaureate, ESLCulturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, IB, Advanced Placement, honors). 2. Each year schools will notify students and parents of their written homework guidelines. 3. Principals and teachers are responsible for addressing student and parent concerns and mitigating undesirable homework loads. 4. Teachers will use a variety of techniques for providing meaningful feedback on homework to students. 5. Schools within feeder systems will meet to address consistency of homework guidelines and expectations. Reference: Cooper, Harris, The Battle Over Homework (Corwin Press, 1994). End of File: IKB

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