Homework Policy

Our New Homework Policy

Since the pandemic, Edison Park Elementary has chosen not to emphasize the need for homework. Once we returned back to school at EPE, there needed to be a major focus on the students’ social-emotional well-being. Being home for one to two years amidst a global pandemic was traumatic and the school wanted to ensure we were being supportive of the students’ recovery and transition back from this time

These decisions were not made on a whim but rather on research, as are other decisions that impact our students. Research was done to better understand the effectiveness of homework on student achievement. After reading multiple books and peer-reviewed research studies, it was fascinating to learn that, overall, having or not having homework does not have an effect on student achievement.

The research clearly shows that the largest impact on student achievement is related to the quality of the tasks that we give to students and NOT the quantity of homework. Therefore, we will continue to focus on the quality of the tasks we ask students to complete in the classroom. The goal in assigning all student work is to create an intrinsic love of learning that leads to better critical thinking skills and a better understanding of the material students are presented with.

We understand that many parents rely on reviewing their child’s homework to know what is happening in the classroom as well as to ensure they are helping their child understand core concepts. As a reminder, we publish our full curriculum by grade, including recommendations for additional resources here. 

As a school, we are doing more in our classrooms to allow for student ownership of learning. You can learn more about what we have been working on the last few years to lead to this here by clicking on any of the boxes for a more detailed explanation.  This work will certainly continue and grow in the near future, and will continue to evolve as we proceed over time. 

In line with our findings and our path for the future, you can find the homework policies for all grade levels and programs at EPE below.

• Enrichment – Homework will be given if work is not completed in class.
  
• Cluster – No homework
  
• Kindergarten – No homework
  
• 1st/2nd Grade – Students are expected to read for 20 minutes each night.  Supplemental math and phonics may be given as extra practice but will not be required to be turned in to the teacher.
  
• 3rd Grade – Homework will consist of math and ELA/spelling on a regular basis. On occasion, unfinished class assignments may be sent home. The completion of this homework will be part of the performance category. 
  
• 4th/5th Grade – Students will have math and ELA/grammar homework each night Monday through Thursday. Unfinished class assignments are expected to be completed at home. The completion of this homework will be part of the performance category.
   
• Middle School –  Work not completed during allocated class time will become homework.  In preparation for the demands that will be placed on students when they move beyond elementary school, homework may be given to reinforce in-class learning or to prepare students for an activity or discussion that will take place the next day.  There will not be a separate homework grade category, but the completion of the work that goes home will likely have an impact on assessment scores, collaboration grades, and independent work grades.