School Board

 
 

SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17109

 

 

POLICY

HOMEWORK

 

 

The definition of homework as used herein means assigned school work to be completed outside of the regular school day, without the immediate and direct supervision of the teacher.

 

In an effort to provide education that will meet the varying needs of students, it is the policy of the Susquehanna Township School District to provide homework that parallels direct instruction and reflects the relevance and rigor of the curriculum. All homework assignments should serve a sound educational purpose and should be clearly understood by the students, enabling them to work independently.

 

The amount of time in which students spend doing homework will vary in relation to interest and ability. The purpose of homework should be to:

  1. Provide practice and reinforcement of skills presented by the teacher;

  2. Reinforce skills needed for independent work;

  3. Provide teachers with an additional means to monitor knowledge acquisition and adjust instruction accordingly;

  4. Provide students an opportunity to prepare assignments designed to preview material that will be helpful in understanding future instruction;

  5. Acquire good study skills and work habits;

  6. Promote home/school communication;

  7. Integrate skills with assignments designed to utilize separately learned skills and concepts and apply them in the completion of a single product such as a book report, science project, or writing assignment;

  8. Extend assignments designed to transfer previously learned skills and concepts to other situations such as making real world and cross-curricular connections.

 

Responsibilities of the teacher in regards to homework should be to:

  1. Design homework so that it can be accomplished by the child independent of direct support from others;

  2. Clearly communicate to the student the purpose, directions and expectations for all homework assignments;

  3. Clearly establish and communicate to parents the general purpose and expectations for homework, encouraging feedback regarding quantity and difficulty of homework. Homework should not be used for new learning;

  4. Provide timely and appropriate feedback to students and parents using strategies that will:

                        a. acknowledge receipt of the homework;

                        b. monitor for completion and accuracy;

                        c. give timely feedback on key assignments;

                        d. give significant feedback on assignments based on extension or skill integration;

  1. Differentiate homework to fit individual needs, recognizing differences in working speed, ability, and other factors that may impact on students. Homework tasks can be differentiated by length, by difficulty, or by specific concepts on which students need help.

 

Responsibilities of the student in regards to homework should be to:

  1. Have a system for recording homework assignments on a daily basis;

  2. Have a clear understanding of the homework assignments before leaving school;

  3. Have books and materials necessary to complete the assigned homework;

  4. Allocate an appropriate amount of time daily for the completion of homework;

  5. Turn in homework assignments when requested.

 

Responsibilities of the parent in regards to homework should be to provide:

  1. Time for students to complete homework;

  2. A place for students to complete homework;

  3. The basic materials needed;

  4. The expectation for homework to be completed;

  5. The supervision necessary to ensure successful completion of homework;

  6. Information to the teacher about homework questions or concerns, and feedback regarding the quantity and difficulty of homework.

 

 

Approved by the School Board - August 30, 1978

Amended by the School Board - June 8, 1987

Amended by the School Board – December 21, 2009

Amended by the School Board – January 25, 2010