Davis sets homework guidelines

Davis School District administrators have shut the book on their own homework assignment that has taken the better part of six months to complete.

The result establishes what the district believes is a strong set of guidelines for teachers, parents and students that will help promote consistency in homework assignments and establish middle ground between teachers who pile it on and those who seldom assign anything.

Sandy Petersen, elementary school director for the district, said a special committee looked at university studies and other literature regarding successful homework practices.

The guidelines originally were drafted by a steering committee earlier this spring as one of the superintendent's goals this year for Davis.

The district found five types of homework that are proven to enhance student performance: practice and review, preparation for new material, skill integration, study skills and extension and application of skills.

According to the guidelines, teachers have the responsibility to design homework with one of those five areas in mind while clearly communicating the purpose and expectation of the assignments to students. Teachers are also to contact parents early if a student begins to develop a pattern of late or incomplete work.

"A child may require more or less time and more or less complexity to homework assignments," Peterson said. "Parents should work closely with teachers to assure that their child is receiving maximum benefits from his or her work outside of the classroom."

The district also suggested that, when appropriate, teachers provide student choice in assignments to meet the individual interests, abilities and needs of the students.

Homework should also be grade level and age appropriate. Plus, secondary teachers should work together to assure that assignments are spread over the week so that a student's total homework time falls within the recommended guidelines.

The intent of the district's school board is to promote quality homework in all schools for all students by all teachers in order to foster educational excellence. But Peterson said no one set of rules can address the abilities and talents of every child — these are called guidelines because they are simply that.

For a complete look at the homework guidelines visit www.davis.k12.ut.us.

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E-mail: terickson@desnews.com