Homework Policy Revisions Still In The Works

The Board of Trustees greeted the first revisions to its homework policy with many questions on whether it will benefit Pleasanton students.

The update of the homework policy – presented at Tuesday night’s regular board meeting – raised concerns about the expectation of students, how teachers will interpret the guidelines and whether a reduction of time spent on assignments will impact student achievement.

Revisions to the policy within the draft show a reduction in the time students spend on homework. The draft also clarifies what days assignments should be given.

Research, survey results and input from teachers and parents were the backbone of the outlines within the draft, according to Cindy Galbo, assistant superintendent of Educational Services.

The district’s current homework policy proposes that elementary school students spend 20 to 90 minutes per day – including reading – on homework, depending on their grade level.

Middle and high school students are expected to spend an average of 90 to 120 minutes daily on homework for all classes, according to the policy.

The draft presented Tuesday night reduces those suggested assignment time allotments:

• Elementary school students spending 10 to 50 minutes on homework
• Middle school students spending no more than 15 minutes per class on homework
• High school students spending no more than 20 minutes per period on homework.

District officials are still gathering information and hope to get more feedback from students as well as parents and teachers throughout the coming months in order to “fine tune” the policy’s changes, Galbo said.

Once adopted, the revisions will be in place for the 2011-12 school year. The policy was last revised in 2003, according to district spokesperson Myla Grasso.

Discussion on homework and its impact on the stress levels of students became necessary as Pleasanton Unified began evaluating the pressures students face daily, Grasso added.

Trustee Chris Grant emphasized it is important to get more feedback now that a preliminary draft has been prepared.

“This is a rough draft. It’s intended to be a rough draft. We anticipate that this is going to change,” Grant said.

Other board members said they hope that by reworking the policy, they can educate parents and students on the expectations of everyone in order to instill the idea of learning as a tool.

Trustee Jeff Bowser said it is often forgotten that homework is "intended to enhance instruction in the classroom" and that the revisions encourage families to become involved in their children's academic and extracurricular lives.

“What’s good about this policy is it’s a guideline for parents to remind them that the quality of life is so important and the family experience is so important. I think that’s what we’re trying to accomplish with this,” Bowser said.

A workshop is slated for April 26 to gather information from the board and public. Presentation of the first reading will be on May 24 and the board is expected to hear a second reading and may vote on the updated policy on June 21.

To download the policy's draft or see results from last spring's homework survey, click here.

Also at Tuesday night’s school board meeting:

• School board members unanimously voted to approve Resolution No. 2011-11.23, allowing the district to participate in the California Cash Reserve Program, sponsored by the California School Boards Association Finance Corporation. Through the program, the district will be permitted to issue a tax and revenue anticipation note (TRAN) in a pooled structure. The TRAN would act as a temporary influx of cash for the district while it awaits the arrival of its tax receipts in December and April 2012
• Assistant Superintendent of Human Services Bill Faraghan presented a personnel document that included the resignation of Vice Principal Teresa Johnson. The board approved the document unanimously.
• After deferring it from its consent agenda, the board approved an increase of monthly child care fees for Kids Club/YMCA for the 2011-12 year.

• The one-time registration fee was increased to $85.
• The monthly fee for kindergarten from September to June was increased to $550
• The monthly fee for children in grades 1-5 from September to June was increased to $425
• Summer fees remain the same at $650 per month in the months of July and August

• Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi and trustee Joan Laursen announced their participation in Tuesday’s Youth in Government Day. They both talked about how the students involved discussed homework during a mock school board meeting.