Coursework/Homework/Projects/Assignment Guidelines

CODE: IKB

Maine School Administrative District No. 31

COURSEWORK/HOMEWORK/PROJECTS/ASSIGNMENTS GUIDELINES

Numerous studies show that the amount of time students spend on learning a skill directly affects their ability to master it.

The Board believes that there are several reasons for assigning homework:

A. Homework/coursework helps students learn better and faster. Research shows that many successful teachers assign meaningful

homework/coursework. By asking students to spend some of their out-of-class time working on a specific skill or subject,

teachers make it possible to spend class time teaching students even more.

B. Homework/coursework helps families become involved with education. We know that for schools to do the best possible job

educating each student, parents and schools must work together. Homework/coursework is one way parents can make a

meaningful contribution to helping their sons and daughters achieve. When students see that their parents think education is

important, their performance improves.

C. Homework/coursework communicates the high expectations that schools hold for their students. The best schools have confidence

that their students can and will achieve. Assigning meaningful homework/coursework is one way of letting students develop

confidence in their own abilities.

D. Homework/coursework helps students develop self-discipline and organizational skills. Through homework/coursework, students

learn how to manage their time. They learn the importance of setting goals and working to achieve them. They learn to be

responsible for their own achievements. All these skills will help them continue to be successful throughout their lives.

The amount of homework/coursework assigned should be gradually increased from grade to grade. As a child advances through school, it is reasonable to expect that the amount of homework/coursework can be increased using the following guideline and on average, there should be no more than:

Grades K-5: 10 minutes in Grade 1 with an additional 10 minutes per grade to a maximum of 50 minutes in Grade 5

Grade 6: A maximum of 60 minutes

Grade 7: A maximum of 75 minutes

Grade 8: A maximum of 90 minutes

Grades 9-12: A maximum of three hours per night for all subjects combined

Legal Reference: CH. 125.23, B, 5, 1 (Maine Dept. of Ed. Rule)

First Reading: 11/17/1999

Adoption: 12/15/1999