Cecil County Public Schools Policies
Book:	Cecil County Public Schools Policies
Section:	I - Instruction
Title:	HOMEWORK
Number:	IKB
Status:	Active
Legal:
Adopted:	01/01/1975
Last Revised:	06/14/2004
Last Reviewed:	12/01/2009

Policy Detail

Related Entries: IKAE, IKAF, IKAG
Office: ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATION SERVICES

HOMEWORK

Homework plays an important role in the development of students. It provides an opportunity for students to develop self-reliance , self-direction, and practice of newly acquired skills. Homework also helps students establish habits of work which will influence their use of time throughout life. It should be smoothly graduated from an assignment of several minutes in the primary grades to a total maximum for all subjects of two hours a night in grades nine through twelve.

Desirable homework habits must be developed at school. The school's task is to provide a suitable environment for study and to train the student in good habits of work. This training should begin in the earliest grades.

In the task of designing homework adapted to the needs of the individual student, the items listed below should serve as guideposts.

Classroom learning is improved through outside preparation (homework) by students; at times, class work is dependent upon outside preparation.

Homework may include review, reinforcements, reading in preparation for class discussion, data gathering, analysis and synthesis, preparation of long-term projects and reports, enrichment and exploration through the utilization of resources outside the school.

The introduction of new or difficult work should not be given as homework but must be reserved for classroom instruction.

Homework must stem from classwork thus requiring attention in class in order to understand assignments thoroughly and to develop creative and meaningful ways to follow-up class activities. It requires organization of time and materials to complete successfully the required work.

Homework must be checked to see that it has fulfilled the purposes for which it was given and must be counted toward the academic grade.

Homework must meet the level of a student's maturity and provide him/her with motivation, challenge, and above all, variety and interest.

Teachers must cooperate in planning homework so that the student does not find himself burdened with several heavy assignments at the same time.

Homework must not be used as punishment.

Extra credit or extra homework assignments are not to be used as a means for improving a student's grade.

Homework assignments for weekends and holidays are at the discretion of the teacher; homework is not to be given over an extended holiday period.