District has homework to do

By Stephanie Bertholdo  bertholdo@theacorn.com

After more than two years of meetings and studies, the Las Virgenes Unified School District has issued revised homework guidelines for its students.

The six-page report establishes expectations regarding daily homework and long-term projects for students in kindergarten through grade 12.

The amount of homework, how it's graded, the quantity of homework and the various responsibilities of teachers, students and parents are also outlined.

The new regulation also encourages better coordination of assignments among school departments and grade levels.

"One of the key points is a requirement that principals work with their department chairs at the secondary level to meet at the beginning of the school year to try and set dates for major projects being due at the same time," said Superintendent Donald Zimring. "While we can't always eliminate these situations, we know that advanced planning can reduce these conflicts and make it a better situation for the students and parents."

Complaints from parents about unreasonable amounts of homework, and tests and projects that have simultaneous deadlines prompted the revision.

Joe Nardo, former superintendent of education, began the homework committee with participation from teachers, parents and students. The current superintendent of education, Mary Schillinger, took over when Nardo retired last year.

Although homework is different depending on the grade, parents often have complained that it seemed more like "busy work" rather than meaningful course study.

The new guidelines address the need for substance.

"Homework should be skill-level appropriate and relate in a meaningful way to the ongoing instruction in the classroom," Schillinger wrote in a report.

The new regulations don't do away with weekend homework or long-term projects, but they do clarify certain expectations. Schillinger hopes teachers will inform students and parents of major projects at the beginning of the year.

"Information should also include how the project will be evaluated in relationship to the student's final semester grade," Schillinger said. "Teachers are to provide ample notice for long-term projects with a specific due date."

Another issue that has long irked students is overlapping tests and due dates for projects.

"Subject area departments should make every effort to coordinate within and between departments to avoid conflicts or student overload resulting from major projects or exams being scheduled on the same date," Schillinger's report said.

"Teachers have different approaches, but what we want to make sure is that the purpose is what drives the homework," said Dave Moorman, school board member. "As long as teachers refer to that and parents refer to that and students refer to that, then the homework makes sense."

Homework for elementary school students is also addressed in the guidelines.

While kindergarten students are expected to spend no more than 20 minutes a day to complete homework, by the fifth grade students may find themselves working an additional one hour per night to satisfy class requirements.

While weekend homework is not the norm for elementary students, sometimes it's necessary, Schillinger said.

"Homework may only be assigned over the weekend for a student who is behind and is in need of making up missed assignments or is in need of extra remedial work. . . . Students may use the weekend for independent study or extra-credit work if permissible by the classroom teacher."

"(The new guidelines are) not going to be a magic fix for people who feel they do too much homework, but it clarifies a lot," Moorman said.